(1) Any officer of the Archeological Department or any person holding a licence under section 20B may, with the written permission of the Collector enter upon and make excavations in any, protected area. (2) Where, in the exercise of the power conferred by sub-section (1), the rights of any person are infringed by the occupation or disturbance of the surface of any land, 1[the Central Government] shall pay to that person compensation for the infringement.

(1) Any officer of the Archeological Department or any person holding a licence under section 20B may, with the written permission of the Collector enter upon and make excavations in any, protected area. (2) Where, in the exercise of the power conferred by sub-section (1), the rights of any person are infringed by the occupation or disturbance of the surface of any land, 1[the Central Government] shall pay to that person compensation for the infringement.