(1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,
(a) "Act" means the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957)
(b) "agent", when used in relation to a quarry or mine, means any person whether appointed as such or not, who acts as the representative of the owner in respect of the management of the quarry or mine or any part thereof;
(c) "development" means removing overburden or unproductive or waste materials as preparatory to mining
(d) "drilling" means the penetration of alluvial material, rocks or formations by holes for obtaining geological information and for drawing samples therefrom
(e) "environment" and "environmental pollution" shall have the same meanings respectively assigned to them in the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986)
(f) "Form" means a Form set forth in Schedule to these rules,
(g) "geologist" means a person having a post graduate degree in Geology from a University established or incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament or any institution recognised by the University Grants Commission established under Section 4 of the University Grants Commission Act 1956(3 of 1956) or any qualification equivalent thereto and appointed in writing by the prospecting licensee, owner or agent to perform the duties of a geologist under these rules;
(h) "marble" means crystalline metamorphosed calcarious or dolomitic rocks and serpentine rock types which are -
(i) amenable to be recovered as dimensional stone; and
(ii) capable of taking polish.
(i) "lease" means a lease granted for the purpose of undertaking mining or quarrying operations for marble
(j) "manager" when used in relation to a mine or a quarry, means any person appointed by the owner or agent and includes the owner or the agent if he appoints himself to be such manager, under section 17 of the Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952);
(k) "mining engineer" means a person having a Bachelor degree in mining engineering from a University established or incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament or including any institution recognised by the University Grants Commission established under Section 4 of the University Grants Commission Act 1956(3 of 1956) or any qualification equivalent thereto and appointed in writing by the owner or agent to perform the duties of a mining engineer under these rules;
(l) "prospect" means an area where existence of marble has been established
(m) "prospecting licence" means a licence granted for the purpose of undertaking any operation for the purpose of exploring, locating or proving marble deposits;
(n) "quarry" means an opencast working as defined in Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952)
(o) "recognised person" means a qualified person granted recognition by the competent authority under these rules to prepare mining plan
(p) "year" means the twelve months period beginning from the first day of April and ending on the thirty first day of March of the following year.
(2) All other words and expressions used in these rules but not defined shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act.
CHAPTER II PROSPECTING AND MINING OF MARBLE