Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1) Where the State Government is of opinion that it is expedient in the interest of regulation of mines and mineral development, preservation of natural environment, control of floods, prevention of pollution or to avoid danger to public health or communication or to ensure safety of buildings, monuments or other structures or for the conservation of mineral resources or for safety in mines, or for such other purposes as the State Government may think fit, it is necessary in the public interest so to do in respect of any area within the State, it may make an order making a premature termination of such prospecting licence or mining lease with respect to such area or part thereof, and granting a fresh prospecting license or mining lease in respect of such area in favour of such Government company or corporation owned or controlled by Government as it may think fit : Provided that no such termination shall be made after giving to the holder of such prospecting licence or the lease of such mining lease a reasonable opportunity of being heard. (2) Where the holder of a prospecting licence or mining lease fails to undertake prospecting or mining operations for a period of one year from the date of the issue of the licence or, as the case may be, lease, or having commenced prospecting or mining operations, has discontinued the same for a period of one year, the prospecting licence or the mining lease, as the case may be, shall lapse on the expiry of the period of one year from the date for issue or as the case may be, the discontinuance of the prospecting or mining operations : Provided that the State Government may, on an application made by the holder of such licence or lease before the expiry of the said period of one year, and on being satisfied that it will not be possible for the holder of such licence or lease to undertake prospecting or mining operations or to continue such operations for reasons beyond his control, make an order, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, to the effect that the said licence or lease shall not lapse. (3) Where a prospecting licence or mining lease has lapsed under Sub-section (2) the State Government may, on an application made to it by the, holder of such licence or lease, submitted within a period of six months from the date of its lapse and on being satisfied that such non-commencement or discontinuance was due to reasons beyond the control of the holder of such licence or lease, revive the licence or lease, as the case may be, from such prospective or retrospective date as it thinks fit but not earlier than the date of lapse of the licence or lease : Provided that no licence or lease shall be revived under this Sub-section for more than twice during the entire period of the licence or lease, as the case may be. Restrictions on the grant of prospecting licence or mining lease