Balochistan Irrigation and Drainage Authority Act, 1997.

This Act is enacted to provide for streamlining the irrigation and drainage system so as to ensure the irrigation and drainage network sustainable in a long term basis and introduce participation of beneficiaries in the operation and management thereof.
Section 3 and 8 provide for the establishment of the Balochistan Irrigation and Drainage Authority and the powers and functions thereof. Section 27 provides for the establishment of the Area Water Boards. The Functions of the Area Water Board shall include: (1) To formulate and implement policies with a view to achieve and continuously improve effective, economical and efficient utilization of irrigation water and to ensure that it becomes fully operative as a self-supporting and financially self-sustaining entity; (2) To plan, design, construct, operate and maintain the irrigation, drainage and flood control infrastructure located within its territorial jurisdiction; etc. The Authority and Area Water Board shall devise and implement pilot programs, policies and take step thereunder to ensure that Farmer Organizations are formed at the minor/distributary level in a phased and orderly manner. Functions of the Farmer Organizations include: To operate, manage and improve the irrigation and drainage infrastructure; (2) To obtain irrigation water from the Authority or Area Water Board concerned and to supply the same to their members and other water users; (3) To receive the drainage effluent from their water users and to convey the same to the drainage system; etc.