§ 1172. Severability of provisions. The powers granted and the duties imposed by this article and the applicability thereof to any persons, tax districts or circumstances shall be construed to be independent and severable and if any one or more sections, clauses, sentences or parts of this article, or the applicability thereof to any persons, tax districts or circumstances shall be adjudged unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remaining provisions thereof or the applicability thereof to other persons, tax districts or circumstances, but shall be confined in its operation to the specific provisions so held unconstitutional and invalid and to the persons, tax districts and circumstances affected thereby.