It is the case of the petitioners that there are more than 300 small farmers including themselves in the villages of Jagannadhapuram and Nawabpalli in Tadepalligudem Mandal, West Godavari District, and the lands held by them are irrigable dry lands, and that, with an intention to ensure equitable supply of water to their lands, the scheme known as “Arulla Lift Irrigation Scheme” was conceived by the A.P. State Irrigation Development Corporation Limited, Hyderabad, in the year 1990, and commissioned in the year 1994, and the funds for execution of the Scheme have to be provided by the Government, Corporation and the farmers/beneficiaries. It is their further case that though the total extent of the ayacut to be irrigated under the Scheme is 700 acres, only 400 acres held by about 180 farmers have been receiving water supply from the Scheme and the remaining extent of 300 acres held by about 150 farmers, who have hypothecated their lands with bank for raising loans and making cash contributions to the Scheme, have not been receiving even a drop of water from the Scheme, as the underground pipes carrying water from canal to ayacut have been laid at a lower level than the segment of 300 acres. Though they have submitted several representations to the Corporation as well the other official respondents, for taking necessary action to provide water to their lands, no action has been taken thereon and, on the advice of the Corporation, in the year 1997, a society called “Arulla Ethipothala Padhakam Rytula Paraspara Sahaya Sahakara Sangham Ltd.” was formed under the president-ship of 6th respondent and in the year 2003, at the instance of the Corporation, it was registered under the provisions of the Mutually Aided Cooperative Societies Act, 1995. It is the grievance of the petitioners that disputes have arisen between the
