(1) These rules may be called the Marble Development and Conservation Rules, 2002.

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

These rules shall apply to prospecting and quarrying or mining of marble.

(1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,

(a) Act means the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957);

(b) agent , when used in relation to a quarry or mine, means any person whether appointed as such or not, who acts as the representative of the owner in respect of the management of the quarry or mine or any part thereof;

(c) development means removing overburden or unproductive or waste materials as preparatory to mining;

(d) drilling means the penetration of alluvial material, rocks or formations by holes for obtaining geological information and for drawing samples therefrom;

(e) environment and environmental pollution shall have the same meanings respectively assigned to them in the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986);

(f) Form means a Form set forth in Schedule to these rules;

(g) geologist means a person having a post graduate degree in Geology from a University established or incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament or any institution recognised by the University Grants Commission established under Section 4 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956) or any qualification equivalent thereto and appointed in writing by the prospecting licensee, owner or agent to perform the duties of a geologist under these rules;

(h) marble means crystalline metamorphosed calcarious or dolomitic rocks and serpentine rock types which are

(i) amenable to be recovered as dimensional stone; and

(ii) capable of taking polish.

(i) lease means a lease granted for the purpose of undertaking mining or quarrying operations for marble;

(j) manager when used in relation to a mine or a quarry, means any person appointed by the owner or agent and includes the owner or the agent if he appoints himself to be such manager, under Section 17 of the Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952);

(k) mining engineer means a person having a Bachelor degree in mining engineering from a University established or incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament or including any institution recognised by the University Grants Commission established under Section 4 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956) or any qualification equivalent thereto and appointed in writing by the owner or agent to perform the duties of a mining engineer under these rules;

(l) prospect means an area where existence of marble has been established;

(m) prospecting licence means a licence granted for the purpose of undertaking any operation for the purpose of exploring, locating or proving marble deposits;

(n) quarry means an opencast working as defined in Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952);

(o) recognised person means a qualified person granted recognition by the competent authority under these rules to prepare mining plan;

(p) year means the twelve months period beginning from the first day of April and ending on the thirty first day of March of the following year.

(2) All other words and expressions used in these rules but not defined shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act.

PROSPECTING AND MINING OF MARBLE

No lease shall be granted by the State Government unless it is satisfied that there is evidence to show that the area for which the lease is applied for has been prospected earlier for marble or the existence of marble therein has been established otherwise.

The period for which a prospecting licence may be granted shall not exceed two years;

The maximum period for which a lease may be granted shall not exceed thirty years

Provided that the minimum period for which any such lease may be granted shall not be less than twenty years.

(1) The minimum area that may be granted under a lease for ensuring mining activities to optimum depth shall not be less than four hectares with the restriction that the dimension on any one side of such area shall not be less than 200 metres.

(2) The maximum area that may be granted under a mining lease shall not exceed fifty hectares:

Provided that the State Government, if it is satisfied on the basis of proposed production level, geological, topographical or other conditions, may for the reasons to be recorded in writing, grant a lease over an area more than the maximum area or less than the minimum area specified under this rule.

PROSPECTING OPERATIONS

(1) Every holder of a prospecting licence for marble shall submit to the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government within a period of sixty days from the date of execution of the prospecting licence, a scheme of prospecting indicating the manner in which he proposes to carry out the prospecting operation, in the area covered by the licence and the scheme shall incorporate the following, namely

(a) particulars of the area;

(b) the scale of the plan and the area of geological mapping;

(c) the number of pits, trenches, and bore holes which he proposes to put in the area and the locations thereof;

(d) the particulars of the machines to be used;

(e) the details of exploratory mining to be undertaken;

(f) the number of samples proposed to be drawn and tested;

(g) baseline information of prevailing environmental conditions before the beginning of the prospecting operations;

(h) any other matter relevant for the preparation of a scheme of prospecting, as directed by the State Government or any person so authorised from time to time by a general or specific order.

(2) The prospecting scheme under sub-rule (1) shall be prepared by a recognised person or a geologist or a mining engineer employed under clause (a) of sub-rule (1) of Rule 34.

(1) A prospecting scheme prepared and submitted under Rule 8 may be modified at any time on geological considerations by the holder of a prospecting licence during continuance of the prospecting licence.

(2) Any modification carried out under sub-rule (1) shall be intimated to the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government, by the holder of a prospecting licence within a period of fifteen days.

(1) Every holder of a prospecting licence for marble shall carry out the prospecting operations in accordance with the scheme of prospecting submitted under Rule 8 or with such modifications, if any, as intimated under Rule 9 or as directed by the State Government or any person authorised by that Government in this behalf.

(2) Every holder of a prospecting licence may win and carry two hundred tonnes of marble during the period of prospecting licence, after paying due royalty, under the law for the time being in force, for the purposes of tests and determining its commercial viabili.

(3) Every holder of a prospecting licence shall have priority to claim a mining lease over an area prospected by him, in case he applies for a mining lease at least thirty days before the expiry of the prospecting licence.

Every holder of a prospecting licence for marble shall submit to the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government an annual report in Form A so as to reach it or him, as the case may be, by 30th April for the previous year:

Provided that a report in Form A shall be submitted within a period of three months after the completion or abandonment of the prospecting operations or the expiry of the prospecting licence, whichever is earlier.

MINING PLAN

(1) No lease shall be granted by the State Government unless there is a mining plan duly approved by the State Government or any person authorized in this behalf by that Government for the development of marble deposit in the area concerned.

(2)(a) For the renewal of any lease over an area exceeding one hectare the State Government shall require the lessee to submit a mining plan duly approved by the State Government or any person authorized in this behalf by that Government for the development of marble deposit in the area concerned.

(b) For the purpose of renewal of a mining lease up to an area of one hectare, the State Government shall specify a simplified scheme of mining to be submitted by the lessee for approval by the State Government or any other person authorized in this behalf.

(1) No mining plan shall be approved unless it is prepared by a qualified person recognised in this behalf by the State Government or any person authorised by that Government or by a recognised person under Rule 22-B of the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960.

(2) No person shall be granted recognition for the purposes of sub-rule (1) by the State Government or any person authorised by that Government unless he holds

(i) a degree in mining engineering or a post-graduate degree in geology granted by a university established or incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament or any institution recognised by the University Grants Commission established under Section 4 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956) or any qualification equivalent thereto; and

(ii) professional experience of five years of working in a supervisory capacity in the field of mining or mineral administration after obtaining a degree or qualification required under clause (i).

(1) Any person possessing the qualifications and experience required under sub-rule (2) of Rule 13 may apply for recognition to the competent authority designated by the State Government for this purpose.

(2) The competent authority after making such enquiry as it deems fit, may grant or refuse to grant recognition and where recognition is refused, the competent authority shall record reasons in writing and communicate the same to the applicant.

(3) A recognition shall be granted for an initial period of ten years and may be renewed for further periods not exceeding ten years at a time:

Provided that the competent authority may refuse to renew recognition for reasons to be recorded in writing after giving an opportunity of hearing to the person concerned

On receipt of the application for grant of mining lease for undertaking mining operations for marble, the State Government shall take decision to grant precise area for the said purpose and communicate such decision to the applicant and on receipt of the communication from the State Government of the precise area to be granted, the applicant shall submit a mining plan within a period of three months from the date on which such communication is received or such other period as may be allowed by the State Government for approval and the said mining plan shall incorporate

(i) the plan of the precise area showing the nature and extent of the marble deposit, spot or spots where the excavation is to be done in the first year and its extent, a detailed cross-section and detailed plan of spots of excavation based on the prospecting data gathered by the applicant and a tentative scheme of mining for the first five years of the lease;

(ii) details of the geology and lithology of the precise area including marble reserves of the area;

(iii) the extent of manual mining or mining by the use of machinery and mechanical devices on the precise area;

(iv) the plan of the precise area showing natural water courses, limits of reserved and other forest areas and density of trees, if any, assessment of impact of mining activity on forest, land surface and environment including air and water pollution, details of scheme for restoration of the area by afforestation, land reclamation, use of pollution control devices and of such other measures as may be directed by the Central or the State Government from time to time;

(v) annual programme and plan for excavation on the precise area from year to year for five years; and

(vi) any other matter which the State Government or any person so authorised may require the applicant to provide in the mining plan.

MINING OPERATIONS

(1) No person shall commence mining operations for marble in any area except in accordance with a mining plan approved under these rules.

(2) The State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government may require the holder of a lease to make such modifications in the mining plan referred to in sub-rule (1) or impose such conditions as it considers necessary by an order in writing if such modifications or imposition of conditions are considered necessary in the light of the experience of operation of mining plan or in view of the change in the technological development.

(3) A holder of a lease, desirous of seeking modifications in the approved mining plan as are considered expedient, in the interest of safe and scientific mining, conservation of marble, or for the protection of environment, shall apply to the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government, setting forth the intended modifications and explaining the reasons for the same.

(4) The State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government may approve the modifications under sub-rule (3) or approve with such alterations as it may consider expedient.

(1)(a) Where mining operations for marble covering leasehold areas exceeding one hectare have been undertaken before the commencement of these rules without an approved mining plan, the holder of such lease shall submit a mining plan within a period of one year from the date of commencement of these rules, to the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government for its approval;

(b) In case of existing mining leases up to one hectare, the State Government shall specify a simplified scheme of mining and every lessee shall submit such scheme of mining within a period of one year from the date of commencement of these rules to the State Government or any person authorized in this behalf by that Government for its approval.

(2) If a holder of a lease has not been able to submit the mining plan or scheme of mining within the time specified in sub-rule (1) for reasons beyond his control, he may apply for extension of time giving reasons to the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government.

(3) The State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government on receiving an application made under sub-rule (2) may, on being satisfied, extend the period for submission of the mining plan or scheme of mining for a period which may not exceed one year.

(4) The State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government may approve the mining plan or scheme of mining submitted by the lessee under sub-rule (1), or may require modifications to be carried out in the mining plan or scheme of mining and the lessee shall carry out such modifications and resubmit the modified mining plan or scheme of mining for approval of the State Government or the person so authorised, as the case may be

(5) The State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government shall, within a period of ninety days from the date of receipt of the mining plan or scheme of mining or the modified plan or scheme of mining, convey its or his approval or disapproval to the applicant and in case of disapproval, it or he shall also convey the reasons for disapproving the said mining plan or scheme of mining or the modified mining plan or scheme of mining.

(6) If no decision is conveyed within the period stipulated under sub-rule (5), the mining plan or scheme of mining or the modified mining plan or scheme of mining, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have been provisionally approved and such approval shall be subject to the final decision whenever communicated.

(7) The mining plan or scheme of mining submitted under sub-rule (1) shall be prepared by a recognised person.

(1) Every mining plan duly approved under these rules shall be valid for the entire duration of the lease.

(2) The owner, agent, mining engineer or manager of every mine or quarry shall review the mining plan as referred to in sub-rule (1) and submit a scheme of mining for the next five years of the lease to the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government for approval.

(3) The scheme of mining shall be submitted to the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government at least one hundred twenty days before the expiry of the five years' period, for which it was approved on the last occasion.

(4) The State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government shall convey its or his approval or refusal to the scheme of mining within ninety days of the date of its receipt.

(5) If approval or refusal of the scheme of mining is not conveyed to the holder of the lease within the stipulated period, the scheme of mining shall be deemed to have been provisionally approved and such approval shall be subject to final decision whenever communicated.

(6) The provisions of Rule 13 shall apply to the scheme of mining in the same way as they are applicable to the mining plan.

(7) Every scheme of mining submitted under sub-rule (2) shall be prepared by a recognised person or a person employed under sub-rule (1) of Rule 34.

(1) Every holder of a lease shall carry out mining operations for marble in accordance with the approved mining plan with such conditions as may have been imposed under sub-rule (2) of Rule 16 or with such modifications, if any, as approved under sub-rule (4) of Rule 16 or in accordance with the mining plan or the scheme submitted or approved under Rule 12 or 17 or 18 as the case may be.

(2) If the mining operations are not carried out in accordance with the mining plan as referred to under sub-rule (1), the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government may order suspension of all or any of the mining operations and permit continuance of only such operations as may be necessary to restore the conditions in the quarry or mine as envisaged under the said mining plan.

The prospecting and mining operations shall be carried out in such a manner so as to ensure systematic development and conservation of marble deposits and protection of environment.

(1) System of working in marble quarries shall be performed by formation of benches.

(2) Such benches in marble and overburden including weathered marble shall be formed separately and the benches in overburden or weathered marble shall be kept sufficiently in advance so that their working does not interfere with the working of marble.

(3) In order to ensure optimum production with minimum waste generation, every lease holder shall endeavour to deploy machinery and equipment as indicated below

(a) For small quarry or mine (having area up to one hectare)

(b) For medium size quarry or mine (having area above one hectare and up to three hectares):

(c) For large quarry or mine (having area more than three hectares:

(4) The State Government may, from time to time, notify scale of deployment of machinery indicated in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of sub-rule (3).

(1) The non-saleable marble rejects at quarry or mine bottom shall regularly be collected and transported to the surface and the quarry or mine floor kept reasonably clear of debris.

(2) Small marble blocks from such non-saleable marble suitable for possible use in manufacture of bricks as well as flooring or wall tiles by small scale industries sector shall not be used as ballast, road metal or stone aggregate and such material shall be segregated from the dumps of marble rejects and stored separately for future use as far as possible, whenever such dumps are worked for recovery of stone aggregate or used as quarry or mine backfill.

(3) The ground selected for dumping of top soil, overburden, waste material or non-saleable marble shall be away from working quarry or mine.

(4) Before starting mining or quarrying operations, conceptual ultimate limits of the quarry or mine shall be determined and dumping ground shall be so selected that dumping is not carried out within the limits of the ultimate size of the quarry or mine except where simultaneous back filling is proposed.

The owner, agent, mining engineer or manager of every marble quarry and mine shall submit to the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government, a copy of the plans and sections maintained under these rules, as and when required by that Government or such person, as the case may be.

(1) All plans, sections and tracings or copies thereof kept at the marble quarry or mine shall be serially numbered or suitably indexed.

(2) Every plan, section or part thereof prepared under these rules shall carry thereon a certificate for its correctness and shall be signed by the mining engineer with date.

(3) Every copy of a plan and section or part thereof submitted or maintained under these rules shall bear a reference to the original plan or section from which it was copied and shall be certified thereon by the owner, agent, mining engineer or manager to be a true copy of the original plan or section.

SYSTEMATIC AND SCIENTIFIC MINING

Every holder of a prospecting licence or a lease shall take all possible precautions for the protection of environment and control of pollution while conducting prospecting, mining or processing of marble in the area for which such licence or lease is granted.

(1) Where top soil exists and is to be excavated for prospecting or mining operations for marble, it shall be removed separately.

(2) The top soil so removed shall be utilised for restoration and rehabilitation of the land which is no longer required for prospecting or mining operations or for stabilising or landscaping the external dumps.

(3) Where top soil cannot be used concurrently, it shall be stored separately for future use.

(1) The overburden, waste rock and non-saleable marble generated during prospecting or mining operations for marble shall be stored separately in properly formed dumps on grounds earmarked.

(2) Such dumps shall be properly secured to prevent the escape of material in harmful quantities which may cause degradation of the surrounding land or silting of water courses.

(3) Wherever possible, such waste rock or overburden or other rejects, shall be backfilled into the worked out marble quarry or mine, where marble has been recovered up to the optimum depth, with a view to restore the land to its original use or desired alternate use, as far as possible, and where the backfilling is not feasible, the waste dumps shall be suitably terraced and stabilised by planting vegetation or otherwise.

Every lease holder shall undertake in a phased manner restoration, reclamation and rehabilitation of lands affected by prospecting or mining operations and shall complete this work before the conclusion of such operations and the abandonment of the marble quarry or mine.

Air pollution due to dust, exhaust emissions or fumes during prospecting, mining or processing operations for marble and related activities shall be controlled and kept within permissible limits specified under any environmental laws for the time being in force.

Every holder of a prospecting licence or a lease shall take all possible precautions to prevent or reduce to a minimum the discharge of toxic and objectionable liquid effluents from marble quarry or mine, workshop or processing plant, into surface or ground water bodies, and usable lands. These effluents shall conform to the standards laid down in this regard.

Noise arising out of prospecting, mining and processing operations for marble shall be abated or controlled by the holder of prospecting licence or a lease at the source so as to keep it within the permissible limit.

The standards and permissible limits of all pollutants, toxins and noise referred to in Rules 29, 30 and 31 shall be those notified by the concerned authorities under the provisions of the relevant statutes from time to time.

Every lease holder shall take immediate measures for planting in the area held under the lease or any other area selected by the State Government for this purpose, such number of trees sufficient to improve the environment and to minimise effects of land degradation during the entire period of such lease. He shall look after such tree plantations during the subsistence of the lease.

EMPLOYMENT OF QUALIFIED PERSONS

(1) For the purpose of carrying out mining operations in accordance with these rules, every holder of a marble quarry and mine lease shall employ,

(a) in the case of a mechanised marble quarry or mine, a whole time mining engineer possessing the following qualifications, namely

(i) degree in mining engineering with minimum one year's experience of working in mines including marble quarries or mines, or

(ii) post graduate degree in geology with first class metalliferous mines manager's certificate or post graduate degree in geology with minimum three years' experience of working in supervisory capacity in mines including marble quarries or mines, or

(iii) diploma in mining with first class metalliferous mines manager's certificate or diploma in mining with three year's experience in supervisory capacity in mines including marble quarries or mines, or

(iv) first class metalliferous mines manager's certificate with minimum two years' experience of working in mines including marble quarries or mines after obtaining the certificate.

(b) in the case of a marble quarry or mine lease other than the mechanised marble quarry or mine lease,

(i) a part time mining engineer possessing qualification as specified under clause (a) above; or

(ii) a part time mining engineer, possessing a post graduate degree in geology or second class metalliferous mines manager's certificate, or

(iii) a whole time mining engineer possessing secondary school leaving certificate and mine foreman certificate with minimum five years' experience of working as mines foreman or mate in mines including marble quarries or mines.

Explanation. For the purpose of this sub-rule, mechanised marble quarry or mine means a marble quarry or mine where machine capable of deep drilling is deployed or heavy machinery for excavation, handling or lifting or transporting of overburden and marble blocks is deployed.

(2) A part time mining engineer possessing qualifications specified in sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of sub-rule (1) may be employed to supervise up to a maximum of six marble quarries or mines in case where all such marble quarries or mines are located within a radius of twenty kilometers:

Provided that a person possessing the qualifications other than those specified in sub clause (i) of clause (a) of sub-rule (1) may be employed as part time mining engineer in quarries or mines up to a maximum of three marble quarries or mines in case where such quarries or mines are located within a radius of fifty kilometers.

(1) It shall be the duty of the mining engineer to take all necessary steps to plan and conduct mining operations, so as to ensure conservation of marble, systematic development of the marble deposits and protection of environment in and around the marble quarry or mine lease area in accordance with these rules.

(2) He shall be responsible for the preparation and maintenance of plans, sections, reports and schemes in accordance with these rules.

(3) He shall carry out all such orders and directions as may be given in writing under these rules by the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government and shall forward a copy of each of such orders or directions to the holder of prospecting licence or, as the case may be, the marble quarry or mine lease.

(1) The mining engineer shall ensure that there is sufficient provision of proper materials, appliances and facilities at all times at marble quarry or mine for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of these rules and orders issued thereunder and where he is not the owner or agent of the marble quarry or mine, he shall make requisition in writing to the owner or agent for anything required for the aforesaid purpose. A copy of every such requisition shall be recorded in bound paged book kept for the purpose.

(2) On receipt of a requisition under sub-rule (1), the owner or agent shall provide as soon as possible the materials and facilities requisitioned by the mining engineer.

NOTICES AND RETURNS

(1) The owner, agent, mining engineer or manager of every marble quarry or mine shall submit to the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government returns in respect of such marble quarry or mine within the time specified in respect of such returns, namely

(a) a half yearly return in Form B for every half year ending 30th September and 31st March before the 15th of the following month for the preceding half yearly period;

(b) an annual return in Form C which shall be submitted before the Ist July of each year for the preceding year:

Provided that in case of abandonment or surrender of a marble quarry or mine, such annual return shall be submitted within ninety days of the date of abandonment or surrender.

(2) The State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government shall forward a copy, each of the half yearly return in Form B and annual return in Form C received under sub-rule (1), to the Controller General of Indian Bureau of Mines within thirty days from the date of such receipt.

When the ownership of a prospecting licence or a marble quarry or mine lease is transferred, the previous owner or his agent shall make over to the new owner or his agent within a period of seven days of the transfer of the ownership, borehole cores preserved if any, all plans, sections, reports, registers and other records maintained in pursuance of the Act, rules or orders made thereunder, and all correspondence relevant thereto relating to the prospecting licence or marble quarry or mine lease; and when the requirements of these rules have been duly complied with, both previous and the new owners or their respective agents shall forthwith send to the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government a detailed list of borehole cores, plans, sections, reports, registers and other records that have been transferred.

The owner, agent, mining engineer or manager of every marble quarry or mine or a holder of a prospecting licence shall maintain the labour attendance register, production and despatch register, explosives consumption register, test reports and details of mining machinery and copies of all notices and returns, plans, sections and schemes submitted to the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government under these rules, at an office established by the licensee or lessee and these shall be made available at all reasonable times to the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by that Government for inspection.

REVISION AND PENALTY

(1) Any person aggrieved by any order made or direction issued by any person authorised by the State Government to make or issue such order or direction under these rules may within ninety days of the communication of such order apply to the State Government for revision of the said order:

Provided that any such application may be entertained after the said period of ninety days if the applicant satisfies the State Government that he had sufficient cause for not making the application within time.

(2) Every order, against which a revision application is preferred under sub-rule (1), shall be complied with pending the decision of the State Government in such revision

Provided that the State Government may on an application by the applicant, suspend the operation of the order appealed against pending disposal of the revision application.

(3) On receipt of an application for revision under sub-rule (1), the State Government after giving a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the aggrieved person, may confirm, modify or set aside the order or direction.

(4) Every application submitted under the provisions of this rule shall be accompanied by a Treasury Receipt showing that a fee of five hundred rupees has been paid into a State Government Treasury or any branch of the State Bank of India doing Treasury Business to the credit of the State Government.

Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of these rules shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with both and in the case of continuing contravention with an additional fine which may extend to five hundred rupees for every day during which such contravention continues after conviction for the first such contravention.

MISCELLANEOUS

Every holder of a prospecting licence or a lease shall afford all reasonable facilities to persons authorised by the Central Government or the State Government for the purpose of undertaking research or training in matters relating to mining or geology.

The territorial jurisdiction of a person authorised by the Central Government or the State Government for the purpose of these rules shall be as notified by the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, in the Official Gazette from time to time.

The owner, agent, mining engineer, geologist or manager of every marble quarry or mine shall furnish such information regarding such quarry or mine or any matter connected therewith as the Central Government or the State Government or any person authorised in this behalf by the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, may require by an order in writing and the information shall be furnished within such time as may be specified in the aforesaid order.

The Government or its agencies carrying out mining operations without a lease shall be bound by all the provisions of these rules in the same manner as they are applicable to holders of marble quarry or mine leases.

The provisions of the Minor Mineral Concession Rules or any other rules framed by the State Government under Section 15 of the Act shall be applicable to marble quarry or mine leases to the extent they are not repugnant to or inconsistent with these rules.

The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that any power exercisable by it under these rules may, in relation to such matters and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the notification be exercisable also by such officer or authority subordinate to the State Government.

(Yearly Report of Prospecting Operations carried out)

(See Rule 11)

Note: Please enclose a geological report describing the prospecting operations undertaken so far accompanied by the detailed geological plans and sections showing structural details such as joints, fractures, folds, faults, grain size, texture etc. and also showing locations of (a) bore holes, (b) pits, (c) trenches (d) sample positions etc. The report shall also contain the bore hole logs and the inferences drawn as a result of the study of the geology of the area and the interpretation of the bore hole cores, pits, trenches, reserves of marble and complete report of at least two representative samples indicating stone quality and suitability as per market requirements and the blocks proposed for mining operations.

HALF YEARLY RETURN

MINE/QUARRY CODE ..

[See Rule 37(1)(a)]

ANNUAL RETURN

[See Rule 37(1)(b)]