Section 19. Safety of persons and property

19. Safety of persons and property. —(1) The permittee, licensee, lessee or any other person undertaking the reconnaissance operation or exploration operation or production operation under sub-section (1) of section 5 or any agency undertaking the reconnaissance operation or exploration operation under the proviso to sub-section (1) of the said section shall be responsible to ensure that the concerned operation is conducted with due regard to the safety and health of persons including divers and safety and security of property engaged in the operation. undertaking the reconnaissance operation or exploration operation or production operation under (2) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare safety zones in respect of offshore activities as may be necessary and prescribe the norms for regulating the safety and health of persons and safety of property engaged in operations authorised under this Act, the implementation thereof and matters connected therewith. (3) In the event of any contravention of provisions of sub-section (1) or the norms prescribed under sub-section (2) by the permittee, licensee, lessee or any other person undertaking the reconnaissance operation or exploration operation or production operation under sub-section (1) of section 5, or any other agency undertaking the reconnaissance operation or exploration operation under the proviso to sub-section (1) of the said section, shall also be deemed to be responsible for such contravention unless he or it proves that he or it, as the case may be, had taken all reasonable precautions within his or its means for enforcing those provisions, to prevent such contravention. agency undertaking the reconnaissance operation or exploration operation under the proviso to 3 [19A. Duty of Central Government on mineral conservation and development. —The Central Government shall take necessary steps, as may be prescribed, for the conservation and systematic development of minerals in the offshore areas and for the protection of environment by preventing or controlling any pollution which may be caused by exploration or production operations.] 1. Subs. by Act 17 of 2023, s. 15, for "consumed by him from the area" (w.e.f. 17-8-2023). 2. Subs. by s. 16, ibid ., for section 18 (w.e.f. 17-8-2023). 3. Ins. by s. 17, ibid . (w.e.f. 17-8-2023).