(1) The holder of a mining lease, whether granted before or after the commencement of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Amendment Act, 1972, shall notwithstanding anything contained in the instrument of lease or in any other law for the time being in force, pay to the State Government, every year, dead rent at such rate as may be specified, for the time being, in the Third Schedule, for all the areas included in the instrument of lease:
Provided that where the holder of such mining lease becomes liable, under section 9, to pay royalty for any mineral removed or consumed by him or by his agent, manager, employee, contractor or sub-lessee from the leased area, he shall be 9 liable to pay either such royalty, or the dead rent in respect of that area, whichever is greater.
(2) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, amend the Third Schedule so as to enhance or reduce the rate at which the dead rent shall be payable in respect of any area covered by a mining lease and such enhancement or reduction shall take effect from such date as may be specified in the notification:
Provided that the Central Government shall not enhance the rate of the dead rent in respect of any such area more than once during any period of three years.
PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING PROSPECTING LICENCES OR MINING LEASES IN RESPECT OF LAND IN WHICH THE MINERALS VEST IN THE GOVERNMENT Application for prospecting licences or mining leases.