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BALOCHISTAN IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE AUTHORITY ACT, 1997 BALOCHISTAN IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE AUTHORITY ACT, 1997 An Act to provide for streamlining the Irrigation and drainage system in the Province of Balochistan [Gazette of Balochistan, Extraordinary, 19th July, 1997] No.PAB/Legis.V(3)/97, dated 19‑7‑1997.‑‑The Balochistan Irrigation and Drainage Authority Bill, 1997 having been passed by the‑ Provincial Assembly on 7th July, 1997 and assented to by the Governor of Balochistan, is hereby published as an Act of the Provincial Assembly. CHAPTER V FINANCE 23. Procedure for fixation of rates for supply of water.‑‑(1) The Authority shall normally supply water to different areas on equitable and reasonably assured basis. (2) The rates at which the Authority shall supply water shall be so fixed as to provide for meeting the operation and maintenance cost of the system within a period of 7‑‑10 years: Provided always that before proposing any enhancement in the existing rates and/or agreeing to the same, the Authority Area Water Boards concerned shall use their best endeavours to reduce the quantum of the proposed enhancement of rates through adoption of the following measures: (i) reducing costs; (ii) improving assessment and collection of Water Rate and Drainage Cess; (iii) recovery of arrears; (iv) recovery of cost of providing drainage flood control to non‑farming beneficiaries; (v) dis-investment of fresh water tubewells in Salinity Control and Reclamation Project areas. (3) The components of Operation and Maintenance to be recovered from the farmers in the form of abiana shall be 100 % Operation and Maintenance cost of irrigation canals and secondary drains. (4) The Operation and maintenance cost of flood protection and public sector Fresh Ground Water tubewells will be excluded from abiana. A nominal proportion of 5 % of the Operation and Maintenance cost of Saline Ground Water Tubewells and or main drains may, however, be borne by the farmers if such a need is felt by the Authority at some later stage.