(1)The provisions of this section shall apply 6*** in respect of land in which the minerals vest in the Government of a State 7[or any other person].
(2)Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Central Government, after consultation with the State Government, may undertakes 8[reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations] in any area not already held under any 1[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 2[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 2[reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations] in any area, the Central Government shall be liable to pay 3[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 2[reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations] had been undertaken by a private person under a 1[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 1[reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease] shall be granted in respect of any land specified in the notification.