Maximum area for which a prospecting licence or a mining lease can be granted

(1) No person shall acquire in the State in respect of any mineral or prescribed group of associated minerals (a) One or more prospecting licences covering a total area of more than twenty-five square kilometers in the case of minerals (other than mineral oils) and two hundred and twenty-five square kilometers in the case of mineral oils; (b) One more mining lease covering a total area of not more than ten square kilometers, in case of all minerals (except mineral oil) and seventy five square kilometers in case of mineral oils: Provided that if the State Government is of opinion that in the interest of the development of any mineral, it is necessary so to do, it may, for reasons to be recorded by it in writing, permit any person to acquire one or more prospecting licences or mining leases covering an area in excess of the aforesaid total area; (c) Any prospecting licence or mining lease in respect of an area which is not compact or contiguous; Provided that if the State Government is of opinion that in the interest, of the development of any mineral, it is necessary so to do, it may, for reasons to be recorded by it in writing, permit any person to acquire a prospecting licence or mining lease in relation to any area which is not compact or contiguous. (2) For the purpose of this Section, a person acquiring by, or in the name of another person, a prospecting licence or mining lease which is intended of for himself shall be deemed to be acquiring it himself. (3) For the purpose of determining the total area referred to in Sub-section (1), the area held under a prospecting licence or mining lease by a person as a member of a co-operative society, company or other corporation, or a partner of a firm, shall be deducted from the area refereed to in Subsection (1) so that the sum total of area held by such person, under a prospecting licence or a mining lease, whether as such member or partner, or individually, may not in any case, exceed the total area specified in Sub-section (1).