It may be mentioned that Chahat means a tubewell operated by a bullock, whereas the word ‘tubewell’ is not defined in the East Punjab Holding (Consolidation and Prevention of Fragmentation) Act, 1948 but is defined in the Haryana Canal and Drainage Act, 1974. Section 2(13) of that Act states that a tubewell means any device for lifting water from below the surface of the ground by mechanical means operated otherwise than by human or animal power.
Thus it is not necessary that the tubewell can only be operated by electricity. It can be operated by any mechanical means other than human or animal power. Hence, it can be operated even by diesel engine and not necessarily by electricity. Also, it is not necessary that there should be some puce room in which the diesel engine or electric connection must be situated.
