Section 6: Maximum area for which a prospecting licence or mining lease may be granted.

(1)No person shall acquire [Omitted in respect of any mineral or prescribed group of associated minerals in a State―

(a) one or more prospecting licences covering a total area of more than twenty-five square kilometres; or 1[(aa) one or more reconnaissance permit covering a total area often thousand square kilometres:

Provided that the area granted under a single reconnaissance permit shall not exceed five thousand square kilometers; or]

(b) one or more mining leases covering a total area of more than ten square kilometres: Provided that if the Central Government is of the opinion that in the interest of the development of any mineral or industry, it is necessary so to do, it may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, increase the aforesaid area limits in respect of prospecting licence or mining lease, in so far as it pertains to any particular mineral, or to any specified category of deposits of such mineral, or to any particular mineral located in any particular area.] 3[(c) any reconnaissance permit, mining lease or prospecting licence in respect of any area which is not compact or contiguous:

Provided that if the State Government is of opinion that in the interests of the development of any mineral, it is necessary so to do, it may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, permit any person to acquire a reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease in relation to any area which is not compact or contiguous.]

(2) For the purposes of this section, a person acquiring by, or in the name of, another person a reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease which is intended for himself shall be deemed to be acquiring it himself. (3) For the purposes of determining the total area referred to in sub-section (1), the area held under a 4[reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease by a person as a member of a co-operative society, company or other corporation or a Hindu undivided family or a partner of a firm, shall be deducted from the area referred to in sub-section (1) so that the sum total of the area held by such person, under a reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease, whether as such member or partner, or individually, may not, in any case, exceed the total area specified in sub-section (1).]