Karnataka Irrigation Act, 1965 (Karnataka Act No. 16 of 1965).

This Act, consisting of 72 sections divided into ten Chapters, provides for the construction, maintenance and regulation of irrigation works, the supply of water therefrom, obtaining labour in emergencies and certain other matters pertaining to irrigation in the State of Karnataka. In particular, it specifies that no person shall construct, control or maintain wholly or partly any reservoir, tank, anicut, bandhara, pond, spring pond, canal, field channel, talaparige, channel or aquaduct except with the previous sanction of the State Government or such other authority as may be authorized by the State Government. In addition, it establishes that the competent Irrigation Officer may enter upon any land, building or field-channel, for the purpose of inspecting or regulating the use of water supplied or of measuring the land, irrigated thereby or chargeable with a water rate, and of doing all things necessary for the proper regulation, maintenance and management of the irrigation work from which such water is supplied.