(3) The matters referred to in sub-section (2) are the following:-
(a) any special knowledge of, or experience in, reconnaissance operations,
prospecting operations or mining operations, as the case may be,
possessed by the applicant;
(b) the financial resources of the applicant;
(c) the nature and quality of the technical staff employed or to be employed
by the applicant;
(d) the investment which the applicant proposes to make in the mines and in
the industry based on the minerals;
(e) such other matters as may be prescribed.
(4) Subject to the provisions of sub-section(1), where the State Government notifies
in the Official Gazette an area for grant of reconnaissance permit, prospecting
licence or mining lease, as the case may be, all the applications received during
the period as specified in such notification, which shall not be less than thirty
days, shall be considered simultaneously as if all such applications have been
received on the same day and the State Government, after taking into
consideration the matters specified in sub-section(3), may grant the
reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease, as the case may be, to
such one of the applicants as it may deem fit.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), but subject to the
provisions of sub-section (1), the State Government may, for any special reasons
to be recorded, grant a reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or a mining
lease, as the case may be, to an applicant whose application was received later in
preference to an applicant whose application was received earlier:
Provided that in respect of minerals specified in the First Schedule, prior approval of the
Central Government shall be obtained before passing any order under this sub-section.]
Granting of reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease in respect of coal or
lignite.
1
[11A. The Central Government may, for the purpose of granting reconnaissance permit,
prospecting licence or mining lease in respect of an area containing coal or lignite, select
through auction by competitive bidding on such terms and conditions as may be
prescribed, a company engaged in -
(i) production of iron and steel;
(ii) generation of power;
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1
Inserted by M M (R D) Amendment Act, 2010, vide G.O.I. Ext. Part II, Section 1, No. 43,
dated 9.9.2010 (No. 34 of 2010).
S.O. 263(E) Ext. Part II Section 3 Sub Section (ii) Govt. dt.13 Feb. 2012 appoints 13
th
Feb 2012 as the
date of which the provisions of Section 11A shall come into force.