law: 3. Interpretation-clause.-
  In this Act, unless there be something repugnant in the subject or context:-
  (1) "Canal".-
  "canal" includes-
  (a) all canals, channels and reservoirs constructed, maintained or controlled by the State Government for the supply or storage of water;
  (b)  all works, embankments, structures, supply and escape channels connected with such canals, channels or reservoirs;
  (c) all water-courses as defined in the second clause of this section;
  (d)  any part of a river, stream, lake or natural collection of water or natural drainage-channel, to which the State Government has applied the provisions of Part II of this Act;
  (2) "Water course".-
  "water course" means any channel which is supplied with water from a canal, but which is not maintained at the cost of the State Government, and allsubsidiary works belonging to any such channel;
  (3)  "Drainage-work".-
  "drainage-work" includes escape-channels from a canal, dams, weirs, embankments, sluices, groins and other works for the protection of lands from flood orfrom erosion, formed or maintained by the State Government  under the provisions of Part VII of this Act, but does not include works for the removal of sewage from towns;
  4(4)"Vessel".-
  "vessel" includes boats, rafts, timber and other floating bodies;
  1. Subs. by the A.O.1948, for the original words as amended by the A.O.1937. The Act originally extended to the territories which are now the U.P., the Punjab,and the C. P. It has been rep. in the C.P. by the C.P. Irrigation Act, 1931 (C.P. 3 of 1931). It has been declared not to apply to any canal which is includedfor the time being under  Sch. I or Sch. II to the Punjab Minor Canals Act, 1905 (Pun. 3 of 1905), see s. 2 (3) of that Act. The Act has been amended and in Punjab by Pun. Acts 19 of 1953, 22 of 1960 and 18 of 1974'' in U.P. by U.P. Acts 30 of 1956 and 16 of 1974; and in Haryana by Haryana Acts 4 of 1971 and 29 of 1974.
  2. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 2) Order, 1956, for "States of Punjab and Delhi".
  3. The commencement paragraph rep. by Act 16 of 1874, s. 1 and Schedule.
  4. Cf. definition in the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897), s. 3.
  (5)"Commissioner".-
  "Commissioner" means a Commissioner of a division, and includes any officer appointed under this Act to exercise all or any of the powers of a Commissioner;
  1 (6)"Collector".-
  "Collector" means the head revenue-officer of a district, and includes a Deputy Commissioner or other officer appointed under this Act to exercise all or any of the powers of a Collector;
  (7) "Canal-officer".-
  "Canal-officer" means an officer appointed under this Act to exercise control or jurisdiction over a canal or any part thereof;
  "Superintending Canal-officer".-
  "Superintending Canal-officer" means an officer exercising general control over a canal or portion of a canal;
  "Divisional Canal-officer".-
  "Divisional Canal-officer" means an officer exercising control over a division of a canal;
  "Sub-divisional Canal-officer".-
  "Sub-Divisional Canal-officer" means an officer exercising control over a sub-division of a canal;
  (8) "District".-
  "District" means a district as fixed for revenue purposes.