Section 17
Special powers of Central Government to undertake prospecting or mining operations in certain lands .― (1) The provisions of this section shall apply 1 *** in respect of land in which the minerals vest in the Government of a State 2 [or any other person].
17. Special powers of Central Government to undertake prospecting or mining operations in certain lands .― (1) The provisions of this section shall apply 1 *** in respect of land in which the minerals vest in the Government of a State 2 [or any other person].
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Central Government, after consultation with the State Government, may undertake 3 [mineral concession] in any area not already held under any 3 [mineral concession] 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 4 [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 4 [reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations] in any area, the Central Government shall be liable to pay 5 [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 4 [reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations] had been undertaken by a private person under a 3 [mineral concession].
(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 3 [mineral concession] shall be granted in respect of any land specified in the notification.