National Mineral Policy 2006 - Department of Mines

Appendix DSummary of the Recommendations of the Committee Headed by AdditionalSecretary, Ministry of Mines to Review Policy and Procedural Aspects ofReconnaissance Permits 1(i)Definition of reconnaissance and prospecting operationsThe Committee has recommended that in order to bring out more clearly the scope of theactivities to be covered under "Reconnaissance" and "Prospecting" the definitions of bothreconnaissance and prospecting should be changed such that not only the reconnaissanceoperations should also include shallow pitting, trenching and surface drilling which are atpresent excluded from the definition but at the same time the definition of prospectingoperations be widened so as to also cover operations permitted under reconnaissanceoperations. With these changes, exploration activities will become more flexible andtransition from RP to PL will be smoother.(ii)Period of Reconnaissance PermitAfter deliberating upon the concern of the investors for extension of tenure of RP, theCommittee was of the view that rather than providing extension in the period of RP beyond 3years, provision may be made to facilitate an RP holder to move directly to a PL, even beforethe expiry of the RP and pending a decision thereon, reconnaissance operations could becontinued in that area applied for PL while the remaining area would stand automaticallysurrendered. The Committee also recommended that the deemed extension of RP shall notexceed the total period for which a PL can be granted. Thus the Committee has recommendedthat with this the total period of combined RP and PL would not be more than 8 years but thiswould provide smoother transition from RP to PL.(iii) Increase in the permissible area under PLThe Committee felt that the existing provisions of reducing the area from 10000 sq. km in RPto 25 sq. km in PL after 3 years is too drastic. This prevents genuine detailed prospecting by1Source: Ministry of Mines.235