Section 31. Recovery of certain sums as arrears of land revenue.

Any licence fee, royalty, fixed rent or other sum due to the Central Government under this Act or rules made thereunder or under the terms and conditions of a reconnaissance permit, exploration licence or production lease may, on a certificate issued by the administering authority, be recovered in the same manner as if it were an arrear of land revenue and every such sum together with the interest due thereon, shall be the first charge on the assets of the permittee, licensee or lessee, as the case may be.