65Procedure for obtaining labour for works urgently required

Whenever it appears to a Divisional Canal-officer duly authorised by the State Government that, unless some work is immediately executed, such serious damage will happen to any canal or drainage-work as to cause sudden and extensive public injury,

and that the labourers necessary for the proper execution thereof cannot be obtained in the ordinary manner within the time that can be allowed for the execution of such work so as to prevent such injury, the said officer may require any person named in such list to furnish as many labourers (not exceeding the number which, according to the said list he is liable to supply) as to the said officer seems necessary for the immediate execution of such work.

Every requisition so made shall be in writing, and shall state--

(a) the nature and locality of the work to be done;

(b) the number of labourers to be supplied by the person upon whom the requisition is made ; and

(c) the approximate time for which and the day on which the labourers will be required;

and a copy thereof shall be immediately sent to the Superintending Canal-officer for the information of the State Government.

The State Government shall fix, and may from time to time alter the rates to be paid to any such labourers: Provided that such rates shall exceed the highest rates for the time being paid in the neighbourhood for similar work. In the case of every such labourer, the payment shall continue for the whole period during which he is, in consequence of the provisions of this Part, prevented from following his ordinary occupation.

The State Government may ¹*** direct that the provisions of this Part shall apply, either permanently or temporarily (as the case may be), to any district or part of a district for the purpose of effecting necessary annual silt-clearances, or to prevent the proper operation of a canal or drainage-work being stopped or so much interfered with as to stop the established course of irrigation or drainage.