Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1) The provisions of this section shall apply in respect of land in which the minerals vest in the Government of a State or any other person. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Central Government, after consultation with the State Government, may undertake 1[reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations] in any area not already held under any 2[reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease], and where it proposes to do so, it shall, by notification in the Official Gazette- (a) specify the boundaries of such area; (b) state whether 1[reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations] will be carried out in the area; and (c) specify the mineral or minerals in respect of which such operations will be carried out. (3) Where, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2), the Central Government undertakes 3[reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations] in any area, the Central Government shall be liable to pay 4[reconnaissance permit fee or prospecting fee], royalty, surface rent or dead rent, as the case may be, at the same rate at which it would have been payable under this Act, if such 3[reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations] had been undertaken by a private person under a 5[reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease]. (4) The Central Government, with a view to enabling it to exercise the powers conferred on it by sub-section (2) may, after consultation with the State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that no 6[reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease] shall be granted in respect of any land specified in the notification. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Substituted by M M (R D) Amendment Act, 1999, vide G.O.I. Ext. Part II, Section 1, No. 51, dated 20.12.99 (No. 38 of 1999). 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid. 4 Ibid. 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid. 20 Reservation of areas for purposes of conservation.