Constructions, plantations, etc., within river-bed without permission prohibited

(1) Upon a survey being completed and the notification made as provided by this Act, any person intending to make or remove or extend any groyne, building or construction of any kind, or plantation, grasses or trees, within such river-bed including any new formation of land therein shall, one month before beginning so to make, remove or extend, make an application in writing to the Conservator of Rivers for licence to make or remove or extend such groyne, building, construction, plantation, grasses or trees. Explanation. - 'Plantation' shall, for the purposes of this Act, include the growing of plants, shrubs or trees which do not ordinarily require the ground to be ploughed or cultivated every year and which are generally propagated by the planting of cuttings, sets, seedlings or shoots such as nanal, alchi, tilh, betel, sugarcane, plantain, bamboo and the like. (2) The Conservator of Rivers shall, within one month after receiving such application, pass such orders in writing thereon as he may deem fit. (3) If the Conservator of Rivers does not pass orders in writing within one month after receiving such application, the applicant may proceed to make, remove or extend such groyne, building, construction, plantation, grasses or trees in compliance with the terms of such application. (4) An appeal from any order passed by the Conservator of Rivers under clause (2) of this section shall lie to the Collector of the district if the same be preferred within sixty days from the date of the receipt of such order. (5) The appeal shall be in writing and shall set forth concisely the grounds of objection to the decision of the Conservator of Rivers, and shall be heard and disposed of by the Collector of the district. (6) Whoever does any act in contravention of this section shall be liable on conviction before a Magistrate to a fine not exceeding rupees one thousand or, in default of payment, to simple imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months for every such offence.