FORMER RULES OF KARNATAKA IN GRANT OF TANK BED LANDS FOR

CULTIVATION.

Beds of tanks should not be given for cultivation, but in special seasons of scarcity of
rainfall, the Deputy Commissioner may, if he is satisfied that there is no prospect of
storing any water during the season, and the cultivation of the bed would not affect
the interests of the cultivators below the tank, or of the people generally, give the bed
of any tank for cultivation for a season subject to the condition that dry crops alone
should be cultivated and manure should on no account be used. Further, the
cultivator will not be entitled to claim any compensation on account of the submersion
of such lands, from any cause whatsoever.

The permission to cultivate the tank bed should be restricted to a single dry season,
viz., from February to the end of April or May and such permission should not be
renewed from year to year without considering afresh all the circumstances on each
occasion. Moreover, no one man should be allowed to cultivate the same plot for more
than three years in succession. Raiyats who cultivate the tank bed lands in
anticipation of permission in years of scanty rainfall need not be subjected to any
penalties. Temporary assessment should, however be collected for the area cultivated
by them. Even in years of normal rainfall the portions of the beds of tanks which are
larger than the actual water spread and above their waste weir contours may be given
for cultivation by Taluk Officers with the sanction of Deputy Commissioners. Where
the tanks have narrow sluice barrels, the public works department should invariably
be consulted before each case of grant.

The beds of breached tanks which have not been permanently abandoned may be
given out for cultivation temporarily, if after communication with the public works
department, it be found that there is no prospect of the tanks being restored
immediately. Such grants will be made ordinarily for one year at a time and in no case
should the period exceed three years without the sanction of the Revenue
Commissioner. The grantee shall use the lands only for the purpose of cultivation and
shall not be entitled to cut down or remove any trees, etc., standing thereon. He shall
pay assessment at the prevailing rates of Government lands of similar quality in the
village; provided that when there are more applicants than one for the same land, it
will be sold by auction and granted to the person who offers the highest amount of
annual rental at the sale.

Rule 11 (iv) The Deputy Commissioners of Districts are empowered to sanction the
appropriation of reserved lands such as beds of tanks, nalas, vonies, and Gavathanas
subject to the conditions that they should obtain the agreement of the departments
concerned whenever necessary before sanctioning the appropriation of these lands the
cases of disagreement being referred to the Revenue Commissioner. (Government
Notification No. R. 2164—L.R. 486-49-14, dated 22nd May 1950).

Rule 16 L.R.R. should be strictly followed in granting lands for cultivation in the beds
of tanks in action. (G.O. No. R. 1115-24—R.P. 29-1900, dated 3rd September 1901).
GRANT OF TANK BEDS FOR TEMPORARY CULTIVATION.

(1) In seasons of scarcity of rainfall, the Deputy Commissioner is authorised, under

Rule 16(1) L.R.R., to give the bed of any tank for cultivation for a single season during
certain conditions. The necessity for obtaining previous permission in such cases
involves correspondence and often prevents people getting the full benefit of the
concession. Government are, therefore pleased to direct that ryots who cultivate tank
bed lands in anticipation of permission, in years of scanty rainfall, need not be
subjected to any penalties. Temporary assessment will, however, be collected for the
area cultivated by them. (G.O. No. R. 2588-98—L.R. 474-27-2, dated 21st September
1928).

(2) It is frequently found that the land reserved as the bed of a tank is much larger
than the actual water-spread. Government see no reason why portions of tank beds
above the waste weir contour should not be given for temporary dry cultivation, even
in years of normal rainfall. Previous permission, however, should be insisted upon in
such cases but the Amildar may grant permission and report the same to the Deputy
Commissioner for confirmation. In cases where it is proposed to give the temporary
cultivation beds of tanks with narrow sluice barrels, the Department of Public Works
should invariably be consulted beforehand.

(3) The cultivation of tank beds, in ordinary years as well as in periods of drought, will
be subject to the conditions laid down in L.R.R. 16(1), viz., (1) that the officer granting
permission should be satisfied that there is no prospect of storing water during the
season in the area cultivated and that the cultivation of the bed will not affect the
interests of the cultivator below the tank or of the people generally ; (2) that dry crops
alone should be cultivated; (3) that manure should on no account be used, and (4)
that the cultivators of the tank bed will not be entitled to claim any compensation on
account of submersion of the lands from any cause whatsoever. Further, the
permission to cultivate the tank bed should be restricted to a single dry season, viz.,
from February to end of April or May and such permission should not be renewed from
year to year without considering afresh all the circumstances on each occasion.

(4) Tank bed lands granted for temporary cultivation should not be allowed to be
cultivated for more than three years in succession by one man or another, and the
land should be kept unoccupied for a year or two before being again granted for
cultivation. (G.O. No. R. 6346-56—L.R. 297-28-78, dated 5th February 1929).

(5) The beds of tanks by their very nature are very fertile and valuable. There will be
very keen demand for such lands. All permanently abandoned tank beds and fcattes
or small tanks should, therefore, be disposed of in public auction generally, unless in
any particular case such a land is proposed to be granted for an upset price, when the
sanction of the Revenue Commissioner would be necessary, (R.C.'s Circular No. C3-
395—50-51, dated llth November 1950).