(1) Mining lease shall be granted to a person who offers highest premium amount through e-auction subject to provisions of 1[clause (vi) of sub-rule (5) of rule 9 or clause (viii) of] sub-rule (8) of rule 14:
2[Provided that the gap area and strip of land shall be granted as per the provisions of sub-rule (3) and (3A) of rule 7 respectively.]
4[(2) Upon compliance of the sub-rule (10) of rule 14 or sub-rule (3) of rule 12A sub-rule (8) of rule 17A, as the case may be, the competent authority shall issue a letter of intent to successful bidder or applicant, as the case may be, to,-
(i) furnish the performance security as specified in rule 20 within six months from date of issuance of letter of intent;
(ii) submit approved mining plan within six months from date of issuance of letter of intent;
(iii) submit approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 or consent under the Rajasthan Tenancy (Government) Rules, 1955 or prior recommendation of the Panchayati Raj Institution, concerned within eighteen months from date of issuance of letter of intent, as the case may be;
(iv) submit consent from any other Authority under the control of the State Government as per the condition of notice inviting bid; and
(v) in case of bajri (river sand), submit environment clearance within eighteen months from the date of issuance of letter of intent:
Provided that plots auctioned with pre-embedded clearances, the letter of intent shall be issued for compliance of condition specified in clause (i) only.
Provided further that the above period may be extended by the competent authority as per the provisions of sub-rule (6A), subject to payment of late fees at the rate of ten percent of annual dead rent for delay of every month or part thereof.]
3[(3) If the applicant or successful bidder, as the case may be, complies with the conditions of letter of intent within the stipulated or extended period of time, the mining lease shall be granted by the competent authority with the condition that the lessee shall commence mining operations after obtaining environment clearance:
___________________________________________________________________________________
1. Substituted vide Notification dated 14.03.2018 2. Added vide Notification dated 16.08.2022
3. Substituted vide Notification dated 16.08.2022 4. Substituted vide Notification dated 03.01.2025
5. Inserted vide Notification dated 03.01.2025 24
Provided that in the cases where letter of intent has been issued before commencement of the Rajasthan Minor Mineral Concession (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022 with the condition to submit environment clearance, mining lease shall be granted with above condition after deposition of late fees at the rate of ten percent of annual dead rent for delay of every month or part thereof.]
(4) The applicant or successful bidder, as the case may be, who did not comply with the conditions of letter of intent within the stipulated or extended period of time, the competent authority shall reject the bid and forfeit the application fees, premium amount and performance security deposited, after providing an opportunity of being heard by issuing notice of thirty days.
(5) The applicant or successful bidder, as the case may be, shall pay the 1[second installment being twenty percent of the offered premium] before execution of mining lease as per rule 21.
(6) The mining lease shall be for minerals found in the area pursuant to exploration prior to the auction:
Provided that where subsequent to the auction, any new mineral is discovered, such mineral shall be included in the mining lease 1[as per the provisions of clause (xv) of sub-rule (1) of rule 28].
3[(6A) No mining lease shall be granted on the expiry of a period of three years from the date of the letter of intent and the letter of intent shall be invalidated leading to annulment of the entire process of auction:
Provided that the competent authority may allow a further period of two years for grant of mining lease if the reasons for delay were beyond the control of the holder of letter of intent.
Provided further that where the period of five years has expired or expiring within one year from the date of commencement of the Rajasthan Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2025, the letter of intent shall be invalidated in case mining lease is not granted within a period of one year from the date of commencement of the said Rules of 2025.]
4[(7)] 4[(8)]