Grant of certificate of registration to carry on business of sinking well

(1) Every person desiring to carry on the business of sinking well in any area in the municipality shall apply to the District Collector for grant of a certificate of registration: Provided that this section shall not apply to the "Scheduled area" as defined in clause (g) of section 2 of the Chennai Metropolitan Area Ground Water (Regulation) Act,1987 (Tamil Nadu Act 27 of 1987). (2) Every application for grant of a certificate of registration shall be made in such form and contain such particulars as may be prescribed and shall be accompanied by such fee not exceeding Rs. 20,000, as may be prescribed. (3) On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the District Collector may grant, subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be specified, a certificate of registration or refuse to grant the certificate of registration: Provided that no certificate of registration shall be refused unless the applicant has been given an opportunity of being heard. (4) The decision regarding the grant or refusal to grant the certificate of registration shall be intimated by the District Collector to the applicant within such period as may be prescribed. (5) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the District Collector under sub-section (4) may, within such period and in such manner as may be prescribed, appeal to such authority as may be specified by the Government, by notification, in this behalf. (6) Every person carrying on the business of sinking well shall, while sinking a well or on completion of sinking a well, follow such safety measures, as may be prescribed. Explanation.— For the purpose of sections 164, 164-A and 164-B,— (a) "sink" with all its grammatical variations and cognate expressions includes digging, drilling, boring or deepening; (b) "well" means a well sunk for search or extraction of groundwater and includes an open well, dug well, bore well, dug-cum-bore well, tube well, filter point, collection well or infiltration gallery, but does not include a well sunk by the Government or Central Government for carrying out scientific investigation, exploration, development or management work for the survey and assessment of groundwater resources; (c) "person" includes a company or association of individuals, whether incorporated or not.