TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE OF INDIA, EXTRAORDINARY, PART-II, SECTION 3

SUB-SECTION (i) 

MINISTRY OF MINES

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the   5th    May 2005

G.S.R. 280(E): -- In exercise of the powers conferred by section 13 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957), the Central Government hereby makes the following further amendments in the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, namely: -

1.         (1)        These rules may be called the   Mineral Concession (Third         Amendment) Rules, 2005.

(2)        They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2.         In the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, for rule 66A, the following rule shall be substituted, namely: - 

“66A. Special provisions relating to atomic minerals:- (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, the prospecting or mining operations in respect of atomic minerals listed in Part-B of the First Schedule of the Act  shall be subject to following conditions: - 

(i)         if the holder of a prospecting licence or mining lease discovers any atomic mineral in the area granted under licence or lease, not specified in the licence or lease, discovery of such mineral shall also be reported to the Director, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Hyderabad within 60 days from the date of discovery of such mineral;

(ii)        the licencee or lessee shall not win or dispose of such atomic mineral unless such atomic mineral is included in licence or lease or a separate licence or lease for the purpose has been obtained;

(iii)       the quantities of atomic minerals recovered incidental to such prospecting or mining operations shall be collected and stacked separately and a report to that effect shall be sent to the Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Mumbai and the Director, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Hyderabad, every three months for such further action by the licensee or lessee as may be directed by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research or the Department of Atomic Energy.

(2)        The licensee or lessee referred to in sub-rule (1) shall, within the period referred to therein, apply to the Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Mumbai, through the State Government, for grant of a licence to handle the said atomic minerals under the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (33 of 1962) and the Department of Atomic Energy shall intimate the State Government regarding issue of licence:

Provided that if in the opinion of the Department of Atomic Energy the atomic mineral or minerals recovered incidentally to such prospecting or mining operations is not of economically exploitable grade or the quantity found is insignificant, it may advise the State Government to exempt the licensee or lessee from obtaining a separate licence or lease for/or inclusion of the atomic minerals under these rules”.

(File No.7/1/2004-M.VI)

(PRASHANT MEHTA)

JOINT SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Note: - The Principal rules were published in the Official Gazette vide GSR No. 1398(E) dated 26.11.1960 and lastly amended vide Notification No. GSR 153(E) dated 4.3.2005.