Mineral development

(1) It shall be the duty of the of the State Government to take all such steps as may be necessary for the conservation and development of minerals in the State, and for the protection of environment by preventing or controlling any pollution which may be caused by prospecting or mining operations and, for the purpose, the State Government may, by notifications, make such rules it may think 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 leases 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 sinking and the preservation or bore-hole records, and specimens of cores of all 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 lessees 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: (h) the submission by lessees 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 (i) 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 the mine; (1) 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 such things as may be prescribed in the interests 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) maintenance and submission of such plans, register or records as may be specified by the State Government; (n) 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) facilities to be afforded by persons carrying out prospecting or mining operations to persons authorized by the State Government for the purpose of undertaking research or training in matters relating to mining or geology; (p) procedure for, and manner of, imposition of fines for the contravention of any of the rules made under this section and the authority who may impose such fines ; (q) the authority to which the period within which, the form and manner in which, application for revision of any order passed by any authority under this section or any rule made thereunder may he made, the fee to the paid for, and the documents which should accompany such application. (r) All rules made under this section shall be binding on the State Government.