Pani panchayats powerless

I came across the this news which quotes -

After the pani panchayat law was enacted in 2003, the Upper Kolab project authorities formed about 75 pani panchayats in Jeypore, Borrigumma and Kotpad irrigation divisions and distributary committees through the pani panchayats to run the main canal systems as its core pani panchayat bodies.