All state, county, school district or other lands belonging to other public corporations requiring to be diked as a protection from overflow shall be subjected to the provisions of this act, and such corporations, by and through the proper authorities, shall be made parties in all proceedings therein affecting said lands and shall have the same rights and liable to the same right of eminent domain as private persons, and their lands shall be subject to the right of eminent domain the same as the lands of private persons or corporations.