Restricted areas

(1) A contractor shall not exercise any of his rights under a petroleum contract, (a) except with the written consent of the Minister in respect of, (i) any land set apart for any public purpose (other than for petroleum (ii) any land dedicated as a place of burial or which is a place of religious significance; (b) except with the written consent of the owner or lawful occupier thereof, Provided that where the consent of the owner or lawful occupier is withheld, if the Minister, on an application by the contractor, and after hearing both the parties, is satisfied that such consent is being unreasonably withheld, may by Order, direct the owner or lawful occupier to allow the contractor to conduct petroleum operations on the land on such terms and conditions and within such periods as may be specified in the Order, Provided further that where there is a doubt or dispute regarding the ownership of any land which is the subject of a petroleum contract, and where it is impracticable to establish the owner or lawful occupier of such land, the Minister may, on application by the contractor and after publishing such application in two successive issues of the Gazette and at least in two newspapers circulating in Belize, and after hearing any objections in response to such application, allow the contractor to conduct petroleum operations on such conditions as he may think fit; (c) in respect of any land reserved for the purposes of any railway track, or which is within fifty meters (or such greater distance as may be prescribed) of the boundaries of any land so reserved, except with the written consent of the railway administration; (d) in respect of any land within, or within two hundred meters (or such greater distance as may be prescribed) of the boundaries of, any township, except with the written consent of the local authority having control over the township; or (e) in respect of any land comprising a street or road reserve as defined in the Public Roads Act, Cap. 232, or aerodrome, except with the written consent of the Minister or other authority having control thereof; (f) in respect of any ancient monuments or antiquity as defined in the Ancient Monuments and Antiquities Act, Cap. 330, without the consent of the Minister or other authority having control thereof. (2) Any consent under subsection (1) (a), (c), (d), (e) or (f) of this section, may be given unconditionally or subject to such conditions as are specified in the instrument of consent. (3) For the purposes of subsection (1) (a) of this section, “public purpose” means a purpose prescribed as such by the Minister. 23