(1) On and after the commencement of these rules, all quarry licence shall be granted for a period not exceeding thirty years:
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1. Deleted vide Notification dated 14.03.2018 2. Substituted vide Notification dated 24.10.2024 13
Provided that ending period of quarry licence granted shall be 31st of March.
(2) All quarry licences granted before the commencement of these rules shall be deemed to have been granted for a period of thirty years:
Provided that ending period of such quarry licence shall be 31st of March.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1) and (2), the period of licence, granted before the commencement of these rules, shall be extended and be deemed to have been extended upto a period ending on the 31st March, 2025 with effect from the date of expiry of the period of renewal/extension last made or till the completion of renewal/extension period, if any, or a period of thirty years from the date of initial grant of such licence, whichever is later, subject to the condition that all the terms and conditions of the licence have been complied with.
2[(3A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), (2) and (3), the period of existing quarry licences may be further extended upto 31st March, 2040 subject to following conditions:-
(i) An online application for extension of quarry licence period shall be submitted to the Mining Engineer or Assistant Mining Engineer concerned with a non refundable fee of rupees three thousand;
(ii) Licencee has not carried out any illegal mining activities 4[] or the case is compounded;
3[(iii) Payment of premium amount at the rate of one third of annual licence fee for each year of extension or part thereof sought by the licencee in following manner:- S.
No.
Period of extension Number of installments Payment mode 1 2 3 4
1. More than ten years Five (i) first installment along with application; and
(ii) second and subsequent installment, as the case may be, at the beginning of financial year after issuance of order of extension.
2. More than five and upto ten years Three
3. More than two and upto five years Two
4. Upto two years One ]
(iv) The applications for extension of quarry licence period shall be disposed of by Mining Engineer or Assistant Mining Engineer concerned.]
(4) The Period of quarry licence may be extended upto the period for which the quarry remained close (dies-non) due to any court order:
Provided that where licence remains closed due to any fault on the part of the licencee or where part of licence was only closed, the period shall not be extended and annual licence fee shall be chargeable for such period.
(5) On the expiry of the licence period, the area shall be put up for e-auction. The process of e-auction shall be started well in advance so that before the expiry of the licence period, new licence may be granted without any gap:
Provided that the licencee shall have right of first refusal at the time of e-auction held for such licnce after expiry of the licence period in the following manner:-
(i) to be eligible to exercise the right of first refusal, the licencee shall comply with the conditions of the quarry licence, the Act and the Rules made thereunder till its expiry;
(ii) 1[] ____________________________________________________________________________________
1. Deleted vide Notification dated 14.03.2018 2. Inserted vide Notification dated 16.08.2022
3. Substituted vide Notification dated 24.10.2024 4. Deleted vide Notification dated 03.01.2025 14
(iii) the notice inviting bid shall specify that the licencee holding the licence prior to expiry of the quarry licence has the right of first refusal 1[];
(iv) upon conclusion of the 1[] of e-auction as per rule 14, the Mining Engineer or Assistant Mining Engineer concerned shall issue a notice to the licencee seeking written confirmation of his willingness to exercise the right of first refusal within a period of seven days of the conclusion of the 1[] of e-auction;
(v) the notice given under clause (iv) to this sub-rule shall be acknowledged by the licencee and who shall, within a period of fifteen days of receipt of notice, exercise the right of first refusal in writing to the Mining Engineer or Assistant Mining Engineer concerned, failing which it shall be construed that the licencee is not desirous of exercising the right of first refusal and the successful bidder shall be entitled to a quarry licence in the manner provided in these rules; and
(vi) if the licencee exercise the right of first refusal and matches the highest final offer price, the licencee shall be deemed to be the successful bidder in place of the earlier successful bidder declared after the 1[] of e-auction and shall be entitled to a quarry licence in the manner provided in these rules.