(1)In every mine effective arrangements shall be made to provide and maintain at suitable points conveniently situated a sufficient supply of cool and wholesome drinking water for all persons employed therein:Provided that in the case of persons employed below ground the Chief Inspector may, in lieu of drinking water being provided and maintained at suitable points, permit any other effective arrangements to be made for such supply.(2)All such points shall be legibly marked ‘DRINKING WATER’ in a language understood by a majority of the persons employed in the mine and no such point shall be situated withinsix metres of any washing place, urinal or latrine, unless a shorter distance is approved in writing by the Chief Inspector.(3)In respect of all mines or any class or description of mines, the Central Government may make rules for securing compliance with the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) and for the examination by prescribed authorities of the supply and distribution of drinking water.
