Licence required to ply any vessel on any river, etc

No person shall ply any vessel on any river, stream, creek, tank, lake or other collection of water affording passage for a vessel, whether for hire or not, except under a licence granted by an officer empowered by the [State] Government in this behalf and except in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the rules, regulations and orders made thereunder and the conditions of such licence: Provided that the [State] Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, exempt from the operation of this section such vessels or class of vessels as may be specified in such notification.