Section 17: Special powers of Central Government to undertake prospecting or mining operations in certain lands.

(1) The provisions of this section shall apply [Omitted] in respect of land in which the minerals vest in the Government of a State or any other person.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Central Government, after consultation with the State Government, may undertakes reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations in any area not already held under any reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease and where it proposes to do so, it shall, by notification in the Official Gazette―

(a) specify the boundaries of such area;

(b) state whether reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations will be carried out in the area; and

(c) specify the mineral or minerals in respect of which such operations will be carried out.

(3) Where, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2), the Central Government undertakes reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations in any area, the Central Government shall be liable to pay reconnaissance permit fee or prospecting fee royalty, surface rent or dead rent, as the case may be, at the same rate at which it would have been payable under this Act, if such reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations had been undertaken by a private person under a reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease.

(4) The Central Government, with a view to enabling it to exercise the powers conferred on it by sub-section (2) may, after consultation with the State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that no reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease shall be granted in respect of any land specified in the notification.