(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, nothing in this Act shall effect.-(a)the rights of any local authority to make any excavation for the purpose of laying, making, altering, repairing or renewing any sewer, drain, water-course or other work;(b)the rights of any authority appointed under any law for the time being in force for gas, water, electricity, railways, telephone to erect any support or make any excavation for the purpose of laying, making altering, repairing or renewing any main pipe, sluice, wire, electric-line, cable, duct. drain or other apparatus;(c)any land belonging to railway administration or belonging to or used by a person holding a licence or sanction for the generation. transformation or distribution or electricity under the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (Central Act IX 1910), when such land is held or used by the railway or for generation. transformation or distribution of electricity. except in so far as they may consent thereto;(d)any land within the limits of a cantonment;(e)any land within the jurisdiction of a local authority under the administrative control of the Central Government: Provided that.-(i)any restriction in force under section 8 as to construction, formation or laying out of means of access to or from any road shall without any such consent as aforesaid, extend to any such land as is specified in clause (c) in so far as the restrictions relate to means of access over or under such land to or land other than land so specified; and(ii)any consent required for the purpose of this section shall not be unreasonably withheld and the question whether or not the consent so required is unreasonably withheld shall be determined by the State Government and the decision of the State Government on question shall be final.
