State Act

The Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900

8. (1) Whenever it appears to the 1[State] Government that it is desirable that measures should be taken in the bed of any cho for the purpose of— (a) regulating the flow of water within, and preventing the widening or extension of, such bed, or of; (b) reclaiming or protecting any land situate within the limits of such bed; such Government, may, either proceed at once in manner in sub-section (2) provided, or in the first instance, by notification specifying the nature and extent of the measure to be taken and the locality in and the time within which such measures are to be so taken, require all persons possessing proprietary or occupancy rights in land situate in such locality to themselves carry out the measures specified in such notification accordingly. (2) If the whole or any part of the bed of any cho be unclaimed, or, if, in the opinion of the 1[State] Government the measures deemed necessary under sub-section (1) are of such a character, in regard to extent and cost, that the interference of the 1[State] Government is absolutely necessary, or in the event of the owner or occupier of any portion of the bed of any cho failing to comply with the requirements of any notification issued under sub-section (1) such Government may, by notification, declare that the whole or any part of the area comprised within the limits of the bed of any cho shall vest in 2[the State Government] * * 3 * * for such period and subject to such conditions (if any) as may be specified in the notification : Provided that no such declaration shall be made in respect of, or shall affect, any land included within the limits of the bed of any such cho, which at the date of the publication of the notification making such declaration, is cultivated or culturable, or yields any produce of substantial value. (3) When the owner or occupiers of such locality are unbale to agree among themselves regarding the carrying out of such measures, the decision of those paying the larger amount of land-revenue shall be held to be binding on all. (4) The 1[State] Government may, from time to time, by like notification, extend the period during which any such area shall remain vested in the 4[the State Government].