(1) No mining operations shall be undertaken except in accordance with a mining plan, which:
(a) has been approved by any officer of the Indian Bureau of Mines duly authorised in writing by the Controller General, Indian Bureau of Mines, pursuant to clause
(b) of sub-section (2) of section 5 and in accordance with rules 15, 16 and 17 of these rules; or
(b) is in accordance with the system established by the State Government for preparation, certification and monitoring of the mining plan pursuant to the proviso to clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 5.
(2) The mining plan shall incorporate:-
(a) the plan of the lease hold area showing the nature and extent of the mineral body, spot or spots where the mining operations are proposed to be based on the prospecting data gathered by the applicant or any other person;
(b) details of the geology and lithology of the area including mineral resources and reserves of the area;
(c) details of proposed exploration programme;
(d) the details of mode of mining operation indicating method of excavation, drilling and blasting, handling of waste and mineral rejects, use of mineral and beneficiation of minerals, site-services, employment-potential;
(e) environment management plan indicating baseline information, impact assessment and mitigation measures;
(f) a tentative scheme of mining and annual programme and plan for excavation from year to year for five years;
(g) a tentative estimate about accretion of mine waste and its manner and mode of disposal and confinement;
(h) manner of mineral processing and mineral up-gradation, if any, including mode of tailing disposal;
(i) a progressive mine closure plan as defined in rules made under section 18; and
(j) any other matter which the Central Government or the Indian Bureau of Mines may require the applicant to provide in the mining plan.
(3) The mining plan shall be made in accordance with a manual prepared by the Indian Bureau of Mines, in this regard.