20. Supply of water through intervening water-course.-

Whenever application is made to a Divisional Canal-officer for a supply of water from a canal, and it appears to him expedient that such supply should begiven and that it should be conveyed through some existing water-course, he shall give notice to the persons responsible for the maintenance ofsuch water-course to show cause, on a day not less than fourteen days from the date of such notice, why the said supply should not be so conveyed;and, after making enquiry on such day, the Divisional Canal-officer shall determine whether and on what conditions the said supply shall be conveyedthrough such water -course.

When such officer determines that a supply of canal-water may be conveyed through any water-course as aforesaid, his decision shall, whenconfirme d or modified by the Superintending Canal-officer, be binding on the applicant and also on the persons responsible for the maintenance of thesaid water -course.

Such applicant shall not be entitled to use such water-course until he has paid the expense of any alteration of such water-course necessary inorder to his being supplied through it, and also such share of the first cost of such water -course as the Divisional or Superintending Canal-officer may determine.

Such applicant shall also be liable for his share of the cost of maintenance of such water-course so long as he uses it.