(1)

The holder of a mining lease shall not abandon a mine during the subsistence of the lease except with the prior permission in writing of the authorised officer, as the case may be.

(2)

The holder of a mining lease shall send to the authorised officer, as the case may be, a notice in Form D of the Schedule of his intention to abandon a mine so as to reach them at least ninety days before the intended date of such abandonment, which shall be accompanied by plans and sections on a scale as specified in rule 31 setting forth accurately the work done in the mine up to the time of submission of the notice including the measures envisaged for the protection of the abandoned mine or part thereof, the approaches thereto and the environment:

Provided that the authorised officer, as the case may be, may require the plans and sections to be prepared on any other suitable scale.

(3)

The authorised officer, as the case may be, may by an order in writing made before the proposed date of abandonment, prohibit abandonment or allow it to be done with such conditions as he may specify in the order.

(4)

The holder of a mining lease shall not abandon a mine unless a final mine closure plan duly approved by the competent authority, is implemented, and for this purpose, the lessee shall be required to obtain a certificate from the authorised officer, as the case may be, to the effect that protective, reclamation and rehabilitation work in accordance with the final mine closure plan or with such modifications as approved by the competent authority have been carried out before abandonment of mine.

(5)

The holder of a mining lease shall continue to be liable to provide the financial assurance and pay for any expenditure over and above the performance security incurred by the State Government towards protective reclamation and rehabilitation measures in the leased area of the mining lease.