Special power of State Government to undertake prospecting or mining operation in any land within the State

(1) The provisions of this section shall apply to land within the State. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the State Government may undertake prospecting or mining operations in any area not already held under any prospecting licence or mining lease, and where it proposes to do so, it shall, by notification, (a) specify the boundaries of such areas; (b) State whether prospecting or mining operations will be carried out in the areas; and (c) specify the mineral or minerals in respect of which such operations will be carried out. (3) The State Government may, with a view to enabling it to exercise the powers conferred on it by Subsection (2), by notification, declare that no prospecting licence or mining lease shall be granted in respect of any land specified in the notification.