18. Mineral development.―(1) It shall be the duty of the Central Government to take all such steps
as may be necessary 2
[for the conservation and systematic development of minerals in India and for the
protection of environment by preventing or controlling any pollution which may be caused by
prospecting or mining operations] and 3
[for such purposes] the Central Government may, by notification
in the Official Gazette, make such rules as it thinks fit.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may
provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:―
(a) the opening of new mines and the regulation of mining operations in any area;
(b) the regulation of the excavation or collection of minerals from any mine;
(c) the measures to be taken by owners of mines for the purpose of beneficiation of ores,
including the provision of suitable contrivances for such purpose;
(d) the development of mineral resources in any area;
(e) the notification of all new borings and shaft sinkings and the preservation of bore-hole
records, and specimens of cores of alt new bore-holes;
(f) the regulation of the arrangements for the storage of minerals and the stocks thereof that may
be kept by any person;
(g) the submission of samples of minerals from any mine by the owner thereof and the manner in
which and the authority to which such samples shall be submitted; and the taking of samples of any
minerals from any mine by the State Government or any other authority specified by it in that behalf;
1. Ins. by Act 16 of 2021, s. 19 (w.e.f. 28-3-2021).
2. Subs. by Act 37 of 1986, s. 15, for “for the conservation and development of minerals in India” (w.e.f. 10-2-1987).
3. Subs. by s. 15, ibid., for “for that purpose” (w.e.f. 10-2-1987).
31
(h) the submission by owners of mines of such special or periodical returns and reports as may
be specified, and the form in which and the authority to which such returns and reports shall be
submitted;
1
[(i) the regulation of prospecting operations;
(j) the employment of qualified geologists or mining engineers to supervise prospecting or
mining operations;
(k) the disposal or discharge of waste slime or tailings arising from any mining or metallurgical
operations carried out in a mine;
(l) the manner in which and the authority by which directions may be issued to the owners of
any mine to do or refrain from doing certain things in the interest of conservation or systematic
development of minerals or for the protection of environment by preventing or controlling pollution
which may be caused by prospecting or mining operations;
(m) the maintenance and submission of such plans, registers or records as may be specified by
the Government;
(n) the submission of records or reports by persons carrying on prospecting or mining operations
regarding any research in mining or geology carried out by them;
(o) the facilities to be afforded by persons carrying out prospecting or mining operations to
persons authorised by the Central Government for the purpose of undertaking research or training in
matters relating to mining or geology;
(p) the procedure for and the manner of imposition of fines for the contravention of any of the
rules framed under this section and the authority who may impose such fines; and
(q) the authority to which, the period within which, the form and the manner in which
applications for revision of any order passed by any authority under this Act and the rules made
thereunder may be made, the fee to be paid and the documents which should accompany such
applications.]
(3) All rules made under this section shall be binding on the Government.
2
[18A. Power to authorise Geological Survey of India, etc., to make investigation.―(1) Where
the Central Government is of opinion that for the conservation and development of minerals in India, it
is necessary to collect as precise information as possible with regard to any mineral available in or under
any land in relation to which any prospecting licence 3
[or exploration licence] or mining lease has been
granted, whether by the State Government or by any other person, the Central Government may
authorise the Geological Survey of India, or such other authority or agency as it may specify in this
behalf, to carry out such detailed investigations for the purpose of obtaining such information as may be
necessary:
Provided that in the cases of prospecting licences 3
[or exploration licence] or mining leases granted
by a State Government, no such authorisation shall be made except after consultation with the State
Government.
(2) On the issue of any authorisation under sub-section (1), it shall be lawful for the Geological
Survey of India or the specified authority or agency, and its servants and workmen—
(a) to enter upon such land,
(b) to dig or bore into the sub-soil,
(c) to do all other acts necessary to determine the extent of any mineral available in or under
such land,
1. Ins. by Act 37 of 1986, s. 15 (w.e.f. 10-2-1987).
2. Ins. by Act 56 of 1972, s. 11 (w.e.f. 12-9-1972).
3. Ins. by Act 16 of 2023, s. 16 (w.e.f. 17-8-2023).
32
(d) to set out boundaries of the land in which any mineral is expected to be found,
(e) to mark such boundaries and line by placing marks,
(f) where otherwise the survey cannot be completed on the boundaries and line marked, to cut
down and clear away any part of any standing crop, fence or jungle:
Provided that no such authority or agency shall enter into any building or upon any enclosed court or
garden attached to a dwelling-house (except with the consent of the occupier thereof) without previously
giving such occupier at least seven days’ notice in writing of its intention to do so.
(3) Whenever any action of the nature specified in sub-section (2) is to be taken, the Central
Government shall, before or at the time when such action is taken, pay or tender payment for all
necessary damage which is likely to be caused, and in case of dispute as to the sufficiency of the amount
so paid or tendered or as to the person to whom it should be paid or tendered, the Central Government
shall refer the dispute to the principal civil court of original jurisdiction having jurisdiction over the land
in question.
(4) The fact that there exists any such dispute as is referred to in sub-section (3) shall not be a bar to
the taking of any action under sub-section (2).
(5) After the completion of the investigation, the Geological Survey of India or the specified
authority or agency by which the investigation was made shall submit to the Central Government a
detailed report indicating therein the extent and nature of any mineral which lies deposited in or under
the land.
(6) The costs of the investigation made under this section shall be borne by the Central Government:
Provided that where the State Government or other person in whom the minerals are vested or the
holder of any prospecting licence 1
[or exploration licence] or mining lease applies to the Central
Government to furnish to it or him a copy of the report submitted under sub-section (5), that State
Government or other person or the holder of a prospecting licence 1
[or exploration licence] or mining
lease, as the case may be, shall bear such reasonable part of the costs of investigation as the Central
Government may specify in this behalf and shall, on payment of such part of the costs of investigation,
be entitled to receive from the Central Government a true copy of the report submitted to it under subsection (5).]