Closing down of existing well.-

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law for the time being in force, if on the advice of the Technical Officer, the appropriate authority is satisfied that any existing well in the area of an over-exploited watershed is adversely affecting any public source of drinking water and such source cannot be adequately protected by action under section 8, it may, after giving the owner of the well a reasonable opportunity of being heard, require him by order to stop the extraction of water from, and close, seal off, such well forthwith either temporarily or permanently having regard to the extent to which it is adversely affecting the public source of drinking water.