12. Protection of major ports and their environs against fire, etc .-(1) The Central Government may, with a view to ensuring the protection of any major port and any city, town or other place adjoining or in the vicinity of such port against fire, explosion or any other calamity, by order or notified order providing for precautionary measures (including arrangements for co-ordinating the fire fighting water-supply and conservancy services of the port and local authorities concerned) to be taken by the port authority of any such port , any local authority having jurisdiction in any such city, town or place, any person using such port and the owners or occupiers of any premises situated in such port, city, town or place; and thereupon:-
(a)it shall be the duty of such port authority, local authorities and all persons concerned, including public servants, members of the Armed Forces of the Union and officers and servants of such port authority and local authorities, to comply or act in conformity with the order;(b)the funds of the port authority or local authorities shall be applicable to the payment of charges and expenses incidental to such compliances;(c)priority shall be given to such compliance over all other duties and obligations of the port authority or local authorities.(2)If any fire, explosion or other calamity occurs in any major port or in any city, town or place adjoining or in the vicinity of such port, there shall be placed at the disposal of an authority appointed in this behalf by the Central Government such of-(a)the fire fighting, water-supply and conservancy services of the port authority of such port and of any local authority having jurisdiction in any such city, town or place, together with the personnel employed in operating such services;(b)the fire fighting personnel and appliances maintained by any owner or occupier of premises in such port, city, town or place, as the authority so appointed may require; and such port authority, local authorities, owners or occupiers and personnel shall comply with any orders given by the said authority.(3)Nothing in this rule or in any order made or given thereunder shall be deemed to effect the discharge by any local authority of the duty imposed on it by any other laws for the time being in force of extinguishing fire and of protecting life and property in the event of fire, within any such port, city, town or place as aforesaid.
