law: 17. Special powers of Central Government to undertake prospecting or mining operations in certain lands.
  (1) The provisions of this section shall apply 1*** in respect of land in which the minerals vest in the Government of a State 2[or any other person].
  (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Central Government, after consultation with the State Government, may undertakes 3[reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations] in any area not already held under any 4[reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease] and where it proposes to do so, it shall, by notification in the Official Gazette
  (a) specify the boundaries of such area;
  (b) state whether 3[reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations] will be carried out in the area; and
  (c) specify the mineral or minerals in respect of which such operations will be carried out.
  (3) Where, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2), the Central Government undertakes 3[reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations] in any area, the Central Government shall be liable to pay 5[reconnaissance permit fee or prospecting fee] royalty, surface rent or dead rent, as the case may be, at the same rate at which it would have been payable under this Act, if such3[reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations] had been undertaken by a private person under a4[reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease].
  (4) The Central Government, with a view to enabling it to exercise the powers conferred on it bysub-section (2) may, after consultation with the State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that no 4[reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease] shall be granted in respect of any land specified in the notification.