Section 54 - Inland Vessels Act, 2021

The Inland Vessels Act, 2021

54. Reception facilities and containment of pollution.-

(1) The Central Government shall, by rules made in this behalf, specify the conditions for construction, use and maintenance of reception facilities for the containment of pollution and removal of pollutants arising from spillage or discharge arising from mechanically propelled inland vessels at all cargo terminals or passenger terminals.

(2) The owner or operator of all cargo terminals or passenger terminals shall provide reception facilities to discharge oil, oily mixture, hazardous chemicals, sewage or obnoxious substances at such cargo or passenger terminal, as the case may be, in compliance of sub-section (1).

(3) The owner or operator of all cargo terminals or passenger terminals, providing reception facilities shall receive charges, at such rates as may be prescribed by the State Government.

(4) For the purposes of minimising the pollution already caused, or for preventing the imminent threat of pollution, the Central Government or such other officer appointed by the State Government may, by order in writing, direct the owner or operator of cargo or passenger terminal to provide or arrange for the provision of such pollution containment equipment and pollutant removing materials, at such cargo and passenger terminal, as may be specified in such order.

(5) The owner or operator of the passenger or cargo terminal shall submit a report of compliance to the Central Government or such other officer appointed under sub-section (4), in such form as may be prescribed by the State Government.

(6) The owner, operator or master of any mechanically propelled vessel used or plying within inland waters, shall discharge the pollutants at the port reception facilities in such manner as may be prescribed by the State Government.