Prohibition of new cultivation on land in bed of river

After such surveys have been completed and approved and the notification as provided by this Act made by the State Government, land within the limits of a river-bed as defined in section 7 which has not been cultivated for two years previous to the date on which this Act is applied to the river, shall not, without the previous permission of the Conservator of Rivers in writing, be cultivated, and it shall not be lawful without such permission to cultivate within the limits of a river-bed any new formation of land. Whoever commences or carries on, or attempts to carry on, any cultivation in contravention of this section and of a notice from the Conservator to desist, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees and, in default of payment of fine, to simple imprisonment not exceeding three months. Explanation. - 'Cultivation' shall, for the purposes of this Act, include the growing of plants which require the ground to be ploughed once a year or at shorter intervals and which are ordinarily removed at the end of the season but shall exclude 'plantation' as explained in section 13.