13. Private ferry not to ply within two miles of public ferry without sanction.

1[Except with the sanction of the Magistrate of the district or of such other officer as the State Government may, from time to time, appoint in this behalf, by name or in virtue of his office, no person shall establish, maintain or work a ferry to or from any point within a distance of two miles from the limits of a public ferry]:

Provided that, in the case of any specified public ferry, the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, reduce or increase the said distance of two miles to such extent as it thinks fit:

Provided also that nothing hereinbefore contained shall prevent persons plying between two places, one of which is without, and one within, the said limits, when the distance between such two places is not less than three miles, or apply to boats 2[which do not ply for hire or] which the State Government expressly exempts from the operation of this section3.