If any complaint is filed before the Authority that any person has contravened any provisions of the Act, or if the Authority is satisfied that any person has contravened any of the provisions of the Act or the rules or regulations or any direction issued by the Authority has not been complied with, the Authority may after giving such person an opportunity of being heard in the matter, by order in writing, direct that, without prejudice to any other penalty to which he may be liable under the Act, such person shall pay, by way of penalty, such amount which shall not exceed one lakh rupees for each contravention in case of dams and which shall not exceed rupees twenty thousand in other cases, and in case of a continuing failure to pay such penalty, with an additional penalty which may extend to five thousand rupees for everyday from the day such failure commences until he pays such penalty :
Provided that no penalty shall be imposed under this sub-section without affording such person a reasonable opportunity of being heard.