Termination of prospecting licences or mining leases.
4A.(1) Where the Central Government, after consultation with 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 communications or to ensure safety of buildings, monuments or other structures or for conservation of mineral resources or
for maintaining safety in the mines or for such other purposes, as the Central Government may deem fit, it may request the State Government to make a premature termination of prospecting licence or mining lease in respect of any mineral other than a minor mineral in any area or part thereof, and, on receipt of such request, the State Government shall make an order making a premature termination of such prospecting licence or mining lease with respect to the area or any part thereof.
(2) 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 communications or to ensure safety of buildings, monuments or other structures or for such other purposes, as the State Government may deem fit, it may, by an order, in respect of any minor mineral, make premature termination of prospecting licence or mining lease with respect to the area or any part thereof covered by such licence or lease:
(3) No order making a premature termination of a prospecting licence or mining lease shall be made except after giving the holder of the licence or lease a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(4) Where the holder of a mining lease fails to undertake mining operations for a period of [two years] after the date of execution of the lease or having commenced mining operations, has discontinued the same for a period of [two years], the lease shall lapse on the expiry of the period of [two years] from the date of execution of the lease or as the case may be, discontinuance of the mining operations:
Provided that the State Government may, on an application made by the holder of such lease before its expiry under this sub-section and on being satisfied that it will not be possible for the holder of the lease to undertake 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 lease shall not lapse:
Provided further that the State Government, may on an application by the holder of a 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 the lease, revive the lease from such prospective or retrospective date as it thinks fit but not earlier than the date of lapse of the lease:
Provided also that no lease shall be revived under the second proviso for more than twice during the entire period of the lease.
Restrictions on the grant of reconnaissance permits or prospecting licences or mining leases
