It was enacted by the then government of Punjab in 1900. It provided for the conservation of subsoil water and/or prevention of erosion in areas found to be subject to erosion or likely to become liable to erosion. The greater Punjab region has long been coveted for its substantial agricultural yields and its strategic position in South Asia. The British annexed the territory in 1849, and successive colonial officials were very attentive to revenue collection from the lucrative farming sector.After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, British administrators specifically implemented policies and bureaucratic structures to preserve order and control over the region.