(1) Any person aggrieved by a decision or action of the Ground Water Officer under this Act, may, within a period of thirty days from the date on which the action is taken or the decision is communicated to him and on payment of such fees as may be prescribed, prefer an appeal to the prescribed authority:
Provided that, the prescribed authority may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days, if it is satisfied that the applicant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.
(2) On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), the prescribed authority shall, after giving the appellant an opportunity of being heard, dispose of the appeal as expeditiously as possible.