(1)

Every holder of a reconnaissance permit or prospecting licence or prospecting license-cum-mining lease shall submit to the Regional Controller or the authorised officer, as the case may be, and to the State Government, a yearly report along with Form B of the Schedule so as to reach him within forty-five days after the expiry of twelve months from the date of execution of the relevant prospecting licence deed or the expiry of the prospecting licence or prospecting license-cum-mining lease, whichever is earlier.

(2)

The format of the reporting under sub-rule (1) shall be specified by the Indian Bureau of Mines:

Provided that in respect of minerals specified in Part B of the First Schedule to the Act where the grade of such atomic minerals is equal to or above the threshold value limits declared under Schedule-A of the Atomic Minerals Concession Rules, 2016, the format of reporting shall be specified by the Director, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research.

(3)

Every agency authorised under the second proviso to sub-section (1) of section 4 shall submit to the State Government and the authorised officer, as the case may be, a yearly report in Form B of the Schedule so as to reach him within fortyfive days after the expiry of twelve months from the date of commencement of prospecting operations by such agency.

(4)

In case the prospecting operations are abandoned, the report along with Form B of the Schedule shall be submitted within a period of thirty days from the date of such abandonment.

(5)

The authorised officer, upon receipt of a request made by the holder of a prospecting licence or prospecting licence-cum-mining lease in this regard, shall keep the specified portions of the geological report or data confidential for a period of two years from the date of expiry of the mineral concession, or abandonment of operations or termination of the mineral concession, whichever is earlier.