Date: 2016-07-06Category: Extra OrdinaryState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Whereas the Offshore Areas Mineral Development and Regulation Act, 2002 No 17 of 2003 hereinafter referred to as OAMDR Act received the assent of the President of India on the 30th January, 2003
Executive Summary:
This document announces the annulment of Notification S.O. 1341E, dated June 7, 2010, regarding the grant of 62 offshore exploration licenses. The decision is based on overlaps with non-offshore areas, conflicts with Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) restrictions effective from January 6, 2011, and pending court cases. As a result of this annulment, all subsequent actions undertaken for the grant of the 62 exploration licences are rescinded.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Background:**
* The Offshore Areas Mineral Development and Regulation (OAMDR) Act, 2002, received presidential assent on January 30, 2003.
* The Offshore Areas Mineral Concession Rules (OAMCR), 2006, were notified on November 3, 2006.
* The OAMDR Act and OAMCR came into force on January 15, 2010.
* The Controller General, Indian Bureau of Mines, Nagpur, was appointed as the Administering Authority on February 11, 2010.
* Notification S.O. 1341E, dated June 7, 2010, notified 63 mineral-bearing offshore blocks for exploration licenses.
* Orders for exploration licenses were issued on April 5, 2011, to 16 applicants for 62 blocks.
* **Legal Challenges and Interim Orders:**
* The grant of exploration licenses was challenged in various High Courts.
* The High Court of Bombay, Nagpur Bench, issued orders to keep subsequent actions in abeyance, later clarified to apply to 17 specific blocks.
* The High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad directed that any steps taken would be subject to further orders.
* **Reasons for Annulment:**
* Overlap of exploration blocks with non-offshore areas where the OAMDR Act does not apply.
* Conflicts with the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification dated January 6, 2011, which prohibits mining within territorial waters (12 nautical miles).
* The CRZ notification defeats the purpose of exploration licenses as winning minerals is prohibited.
* **Decision:**
* Notification S.O. 1341E, dated June 7, 2010, is annulled.
* All subsequent actions for granting the 62 exploration licenses are rescinded.
Impact Analysis:
* **Applicants for Exploration Licenses:**
Impact: The 16 successful applicants who were initially granted exploration licenses for the 62 offshore blocks will not have their licenses executed.
Action Required: No further action can be taken to execute the licenses, as the notification has been annulled.
* **Indian Bureau of Mines (Administering Authority):**
Impact: The Administering Authority must cease all activities related to the grant of the 62 exploration licenses under the annulled notification.
Action Required: Implement the annulment, close out related processes, and address any administrative or legal matters arising from the annulment.
Key Entities Referenced
Offshore Areas Mineral Development and Regulation Act, 2002: A law regulating mineral development in offshore areas of India.
Ministry of Mines: The government ministry responsible for the policy document and administration of mining regulations.
Offshore Areas Mineral Concession Rules, 2006: Rules notified by the Ministry of Mines regarding mineral concessions in offshore areas.
Indian Bureau of Mines: An organization under the Ministry of Mines, with the Controller General, Indian Bureau of Mines, Nagpur, designated as the Administering Authority.
Nagpur, Maharashtra: Location of the Indian Bureau of Mines and a bench of the Bombay High Court.
Arabian Sea: The location of some of the mineral blocks.
Coastal Regulation Zone: A zone defined by the Department of Environment, Forests and Wildlife, Ministry of Environment and Forests, with restrictions on activities like mining.
Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976: Act defining the offshore areas to which the OAMDR Act applies.
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EXTRAORDINARY
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PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
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No. 1691] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016/ ASADHA 15 , 1938
खान म(cid:7074)ं ालय
(भारतीय खान (cid:7011)य रू ो)
आदशे
नागपुर, 30 जून 2016
का.आ. 2324(अ).—जब(cid:7408)क अपतट (cid:6979)े(cid:7074) खिनज (िवकास एवं िविनयमन) अिधिनयम, 2002 (2003 का
(cid:7059). 17) (आग े से ओ ए एम डी आर अिधिनयम के (cid:7272)प म(cid:7286) संद(cid:7414)भत) को (cid:7408)दनांक 30 जनवरी 2003 को भारत के महामिहम
रा(cid:7020) (cid:7069)पित जी क(cid:7409) स(cid:7013) मित (cid:7079)ा(cid:7009) त (cid:7263)ई ।
जब(cid:7408)क ओ ए एमडी आर अिधिनयम क(cid:7409) धारा 35 के तहत (cid:7079)द(cid:7004) त शि(cid:7334)य(cid:7298) का उपयोग करते (cid:7263)ए खान मं(cid:7074)ालय, भारत
सरकार ने (cid:7408)दनांक 3 नवंबर 2006 को अपतट (cid:6979)े(cid:7074) खिनज (cid:7407)रयायत िनयमावली 2006 (आगे से ओ ए एम डी आर के (cid:7272)प म (cid:7286)
संद(cid:7414)भत) को अिधसूिचत (cid:7408)कया ।
जब(cid:7408)क खान मं(cid:7074)ालय न े (cid:7408)दनाकं 12 फरवरी 2010 के सरकारी राजप(cid:7074) म(cid:7286) अिधसूचना (cid:7367)ारा (cid:7408)दनांक 15 जनवरी
2010 को ओ ए एम डी आर तथा ओ ए एम सी आर लाग ूहोने क(cid:7409) ितिथ अिधसूिचत (cid:7408)कया ।
जब(cid:7408)क ओ ए एम डी आर अिधिनयम क(cid:7409) धारा 4 के ख(cid:7003) ड(क) के तहत (cid:7079)द(cid:7004) त शि(cid:7334)य(cid:7298) का उपयोग करत े (cid:7263)ए के(cid:7008) (cid:7076)
सरकार ने अपन े का.आ. 339 (अ), (cid:7408)दनांक 11 फरवरी, 2010 के (cid:7367)ारा महािनयं(cid:7074)क, भारतीय खान (cid:7011) यूरो,नागपरु को ओ ए
एम डी आर अिधिनयम के उ(cid:7374)े(cid:7019)य (cid:7298) हते ु (cid:7079)शासिनक (cid:7079)ािधकारी के (cid:7272)प म(cid:7286) िनयु(cid:6989)त (cid:7408)कया ।
जब(cid:7408)क ओ ए एम डी आर अिधिनयम क(cid:7409) धारा 10 क(cid:7409) उप-धारा (1) के अधीन (cid:7079)द(cid:7004) त शि(cid:7334)य(cid:7298) का उपयोग करत े (cid:7263)ए
(cid:7079)शासिनक (cid:7079)ािधकारी ने का. आ.1341 (अ), (cid:7408)दनांक 7 जनू 2010 के (cid:7367)ारा गवेषण अन(cid:6980)ु ि(cid:7385)य(cid:7298) क(cid:7409) मंजूरी के िलए 63
खिनजधा(cid:7407)रत अपतटीय (cid:7011)ल ॉक(cid:7298) को अिधसूिचत (cid:7408)कया िजसे (cid:7408)दनांक 9 जून 2010 को सरकारी राजप(cid:7074) म (cid:7286) (cid:7079)कािशत (cid:7408)कया
गया ।
और जब(cid:7408)क 53 आवेदक(cid:7298) से 377 आवेदन (cid:7079)ा(cid:7009) त (cid:7263)ए िजनम (cid:7286) से 62 गवेषण (cid:7011) लॉक(cid:7298) क(cid:7409) मंजरू ी के िलए 16 आवेदक
चयिनत (cid:7408)कए गए (अरब सागर म (cid:7286) पड़न े वाल े (cid:7011)ल ॉकसं(cid:6990) या 3 व 32 के अ(cid:6979)ाशं और देशा(cid:7008) तर एक ही थ,े अत: उ(cid:7008) ह (cid:7286) एकल (cid:7011) लॉक
के (cid:7272)प म(cid:7286) माना गया एव ं (cid:7011)ल ॉकसं(cid:6990) या 3 के (cid:7272)प म (cid:7286)मंजूरी दी गई)
3406 GI/2016 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
जब(cid:7408)क 62 गवेषण (cid:7011) लॉक(cid:7298) हते ु 16 सफल आवेदक(cid:7298) को (cid:7079)शासिनक (cid:7079)ािधकारी (cid:7367)ारा (cid:7408)दनांक 5/4/2011 को गवेषण
अनु(cid:6980)ि(cid:7385)य(cid:7298) क(cid:7409) मंजरू ी के आदेश जारी (cid:7408)कए गए।
और जब(cid:7408)क ओ ए एम सी आर के िनयम 19 के उप-िनयम (1) के (cid:7079)ावधान(cid:7298) के अनुसार, जहां गवेषण अनु(cid:6980)ि(cid:7385) क(cid:7409)
मंजूरी के िलए आदेश जारी (cid:7263)आ ह,ैउ(cid:6989) त आदेश के संसूिचत होने के न(cid:7011) बे (cid:7408)दन(cid:7298) के अंदर ऐसी अन (cid:6980)ु ि(cid:7385) को मंजूर करत े(cid:7263)ए डीड
(िवलेख) काया(cid:6981)ि(cid:7008)वत क(cid:7409) जाएगी।
जब(cid:7408)क 62 (cid:7011) लॉक(cid:7298) म (cid:7286) गवेषण अनु(cid:6980)ि(cid:7385)य(cid:7298) क(cid:7409) अनुमोदन िविभ(cid:7008) न उ(cid:6994) च (cid:7008) यायालय(cid:7298) के (cid:7008) यायािधकार (cid:6979)े(cid:7074)(cid:7298) म(cid:7286) चनु ौती दी
गई ह ै।
और जब(cid:7408)क मुंबई (cid:7008) यायािधकार के माननीय उ(cid:6994) च (cid:7008) यायालय के नागपुर ब(cid:7286)च ने (cid:7407)रट यािचका स(cid:6990)ं या 1502 वष(cid:6981) 2011
म(cid:7286) अपन े आदेश (cid:7408)दनांक 28/3/2011 (cid:7367)ारा यह िनद(cid:7287)श (cid:7408)दया (cid:7408)क माननीय उ(cid:6994) च (cid:7008) यायालय के अंितम आदेश आनेतक सभी
परवत(cid:7278) काय(cid:6981) आ(cid:7021)थ िगत रख े जाएं ।
और जब(cid:7408)क मुंबई (cid:7008) यायािधकार के माननीय उ(cid:6994) च (cid:7008) यायालय के नागपुर ब(cid:7286)च के (cid:7408)दनांक 28/3/2011के आदेश (cid:7367)ारा
(cid:7408)दए गए िनद(cid:7287)श(cid:7298) को (cid:7007) यान म(cid:7286) रखते (cid:7263)ए सभी 16 आवेदक(cid:7298) को यह सूिचत (cid:7408)कया गया ह ै (cid:7408)क माननीय (cid:7008) यायालय से अंितम
आदेश (cid:7079)ा(cid:7009) त होन ेतक सभी परवत(cid:7278) काय(cid:7300) को आ(cid:7021)थ िगत रख ेजाएं ।
जब(cid:7408)क मुंबई (cid:7008) यायािधकार के माननीय उ(cid:6994) च (cid:7008) यायालय के नागपुर ब(cid:7286)च के वष (cid:6981) 2011 के (cid:7407)रट यािचका के अंत(cid:7407)रम
आदेश (cid:7408)दनांक 28/11/2011 (cid:7367)ारा यह (cid:7021) प(cid:7020) ट (cid:7408)कया गया (cid:7408)क (cid:7408)दनांक 28/3/2011 का आदेश केवल उन 17 (cid:7011)ल ॉक(cid:7298) के िलए ही
होगा िजसके िलए यािचकाकता(cid:6981) ने अपना दावा (cid:7408)कया ह ै और बाक(cid:7409) के (cid:7011) लॉक (cid:7008) यायालय क(cid:7409) िवचाराथ(cid:6981) िवषया(cid:7008) तग(cid:6981)त मामला
नह(cid:7277) ह ै।
और जब(cid:7408)क मुंबई (cid:7008) यायािधकार के माननीय उ(cid:6994) च (cid:7008) यायालय के नागपरु ब(cid:7286)च ने (cid:7408)दनांक 17/9/2013 (cid:7367)ारा वष(cid:6981) 2011
के (cid:7407)रट यािचका सं(cid:6990) या 1502 के िनपटान के समय (cid:7408)दनांक 28/11/2011 के अंत(cid:7407)रम आदेश को और 10 (cid:7408)दन(cid:7298) के िलए जारी
रखा जाए ता(cid:7408)क यािचकाकता(cid:6981) चाह े तो वे इस अंत(cid:7407)रम आदेश को जारी रखन ेहते ुउिचत आवेदन कर सकते ह (cid:7289)।
और जब(cid:7408)क मुंबई (cid:7008) यायािधकार के माननीय उ(cid:6994) च (cid:7008) यायालय के नागपुर ब(cid:7286)च के (cid:7408)दनांक 27/9/2013 के आदशे (cid:7367)ारा
(cid:7408)दनांक 28/3/2011 के आदेश को 28/11/2011 को संशोिधत कर आगे 6 स(cid:7009) ताह(cid:7298) के िलए बढ़ा (cid:7408)दया गया।
जब(cid:7408)क आ(cid:7008) (cid:7077) (cid:7079)देश के (cid:7008) यायािधकार के माननीय उ(cid:6994) च (cid:7008) यायालय के हदै राबाद ब(cid:7286)च न े वष (cid:6981) 2011 के (cid:7407)रट यािचका
सं(cid:6990) या 12835 के अंत(cid:7407)रम आदेश (cid:7408)दनांक 22/6/2011 (cid:7367)ारा यह िनद(cid:7287)श (cid:7408)दया गया (cid:7408)क इसी बीच म (cid:7286) य(cid:7408)द गवेषण अनु(cid:6980)ि(cid:7385)
अनुमो(cid:7408)दत करने हते ु कोई कदम उठाए गए तो व े इस (cid:7008) यायालय के आगे के आदेश पर िनभ(cid:6981)र करेगा । आगे माननीय (cid:7008) यायालय
(cid:7367)ारा (cid:7408)दनांक 11/7/2011 को इस िवषय पर एक अ(cid:7008) य आदेश जारी (cid:7408)कया गया िजसम(cid:7286) ‘अगल े आदेश तक (cid:7408)दनाकं
22/6/2011को अनुमो(cid:7408)दत अंत(cid:7407)रम आदशे को जारी रखन ेहते ुिनद(cid:7287)श (cid:7408)दया गया’।
जब(cid:7408)क आ(cid:7008) (cid:7077) (cid:7079)दशे के (cid:7008) यायािधकार म(cid:7286) हदै राबाद के माननीय उ(cid:6994) च (cid:7008) यायालय म (cid:7286) दािखल (cid:7407)रट यािचका सं(cid:6990) या 12835
को इस आदेश क(cid:7409) ितिथ तक िनपटान नह(cid:7277) (cid:7408)कया गया ह ैतथा (cid:7021)व ीकृत अपतटीय गवेषण अनु(cid:6980)ि(cid:7385)य(cid:7298) को भी अब तक काया(cid:6981)ि(cid:7008)वत
नह(cid:7277) (cid:7408)कया गया ह ै।
जब(cid:7408)क (cid:7079)शासिनक (cid:7079)ािधकारी (cid:7367)ारा यह देखागया ह ै (cid:7408)क अिधसूचना (cid:7408)दनांक 7/6/2010 (cid:7367)ारा अनु(cid:6980)ि(cid:7385)य(cid:7298) क(cid:7409) मंजूरी
हते ु अिधसूिचत कुछ गवेषण (cid:7011)ल ॉक अपतटीय (cid:6979)े(cid:7074)(cid:7298) के अलावा अ(cid:7008) य (cid:6979)े(cid:7074)(cid:7298) के साथ अित(cid:7018) या(cid:7009) त ह ै (ओवरलेप) िजस पर ओ ए एम
डी आर अिधिनयम लागू नह(cid:7277) होता ।
(cid:7408)क ओ ए एम डी आर अिधिनयम का (cid:6979)े(cid:7074)ािधकार एकांितक (cid:7272)पसे अपतटीय (cid:6979)े(cid:7074) पर लागू ह ैिजसे उ(cid:6989) त अिधिनयम म (cid:7286)
(cid:7079)ादेिशक जल, महा(cid:7367)ीपीय उपतट, एकांितक आ(cid:7414)थक (cid:6979)े(cid:7074) एव ं अ(cid:7008) य समु(cid:7076)ी (cid:6979)े(cid:7074) अिधिनयम 1976 के तहत भारत के (cid:7079)ादेिशक
जल, महा(cid:7367)ीपीय उपतट, एकांितक आ(cid:7414)थक (cid:6979)े(cid:7074) एवं अ(cid:7008) य समु(cid:7076)ी (cid:6979)े(cid:7074) के (cid:7272)प म (cid:7286)प(cid:7407)रभािषत (cid:7408)कया गया ह ै।
और (cid:7408)क अपतटीय (cid:6979)े(cid:7074)(cid:7298) को छोड़कर अ(cid:7008) य (cid:6979)े(cid:7074)(cid:7298) म(cid:7286) खिनज (cid:7407)रयायत क(cid:7409) मंजूरी का िविनयमन खान एवं खिनज (िवकास
एवं िविनयमन) अिधिनयम 1957 (1957 का 67) के (cid:7367)ारा होता ह ै।
जब(cid:7408)क के(cid:7008) (cid:7076) सरकार न े पया(cid:6981)वरण िवभाग, वन एवं व(cid:7008) य जीव, पया(cid:6981)वरण एवं वन मं(cid:7074)ालय (cid:7367)ारा सरकारी राजप(cid:7074) म (cid:7286)
(cid:7079)कािशत का. आ. 19 (अ) (cid:7408)दनांक 6 जनवरी, 2011 (cid:7367)ारा तटीय िविनयमन (cid:6979)े(cid:7074) (सीआरजेड) क(cid:7409) सीमा घोिषत क(cid:7409) ह ै तथा¹Hkkx IIµ[k.M 3(ii)º Hkkjr dk jkti=k % vlk/kj.k 3
सीआरजेड ने उ(cid:7378)ोग(cid:7298), (cid:7079)चालन(cid:7298), अथवा (cid:7079)(cid:7408)(cid:7059)या(cid:7312) तथा समान (cid:7079)कार के (cid:7408)(cid:7059)याकलाप(cid:7298) क(cid:7409) (cid:7021) थापना और िव(cid:7021) तार पर कुछ
(cid:7079)ितबंध लगाया ह ै।
और जब(cid:7408)क उ(cid:6989) त सांिविधक आदेश (cid:7408)दनांक 6/1/2011 यह कहता ह ै (cid:7408)क समु(cid:7076) के मामल े म(cid:7286) तटीय िविनयमन (cid:6979)े(cid:7074)
(cid:7008) यून समु(cid:7076) जल रेखा के बीच जल एवं तल(cid:6979)े(cid:7074) से लेकर (cid:7079)ादिे शक जल सीमा (12 नॉ(cid:7407)टकलमाइल) तक भी लागू होगा तथा
सीआरजेड (cid:6979)े(cid:7074) के बाहर उपल(cid:7011) ध् दलु (cid:6981)भ खिनज(cid:7298) को छोड़कर सीआरजेड के (cid:7272)प म(cid:7286) िचि(cid:7022)नत (cid:6979)े(cid:7074) म(cid:7286) अ(cid:7008) य बात(cid:7298) के साथ साथ
बालू, च(cid:7349)ान एवं अ(cid:7008) य उप-(cid:7021) (cid:7069)ेटा पदाथ(cid:7300) के खनन पर (cid:7079)ितबंध लगाया ह ै।
और जब(cid:7408)क का. आ. 1341(अ) (cid:7408)दनांक 9 जनू 2010 (cid:7367)ारा गवेषण अनु(cid:6980)ि(cid:7385) क(cid:7409) मंजूरी हते ु अिधसूिचत सभी 62
अपतटीय (cid:7011)ल ॉक सीआरजेड के (cid:7272)प म (cid:7286) िचि(cid:7022)नत (cid:6979)े(cid:7074) के भीतर आत े ह,(cid:7289) यािन व े 12 नॉ(cid:7407)टकल माइल के (cid:7079)ादेिशक जल सीमा के
भीतर आते ह,(cid:7289) जहां के(cid:7008) (cid:7076) सरकार (cid:7367)ारा जारी सांिविधक आदेश (cid:7408)दनांक 6/1/2011 (cid:7367)ारा अिधरोिपत खनन पर (cid:7079)ितबंध ह ै
(िजसका अथ (cid:6981)ह ै(cid:7408)कसी भी खिनज के खनन के उ(cid:7374)े(cid:7019) य स े(cid:7408)कया गया कोई (cid:7079)चालन काय(cid:6981)) ।
जब(cid:7408)क अपतटीय (cid:6979)े(cid:7074) स े (cid:7408)कसी भी खिनज के खनन के उ(cid:7374)े(cid:7019) य हते ु उ(cid:7004) पादन प(cid:7349)ा क(cid:7409) मंजूरी ओएएमडीआर अिधिनयम
के तहत क(cid:7409) जाती ह ै ।
और जब(cid:7408)क उ(cid:7004) पादन प(cid:7349)ा क(cid:7409) मंजूरी गवेषण अनु(cid:6980)ि(cid:7385) क(cid:7409) मंजरू ी क(cid:7409) आनुषंिगक ह ै (cid:6989) य(cid:7298)(cid:7408)क ओएएमडीआर अिधिनयम
म(cid:7286) यह (cid:7018) यव(cid:7021) था ह ै (cid:7408)क गवेषण अनु(cid:6980)ि(cid:7385) धारक को उ(cid:7004) पादन प(cid:7349)ा पर एकांितक अिधकार होगा जो खिनज के खनन हते ु (cid:7079)चालन
अिधकार ह ै।
जब(cid:7408)क सीजारजेड अिधसूचना (cid:7408)दनांक 6/1/2011 के (cid:7079)भाव को देखते (cid:7263)ए 62 अपतटीय गवेषण अन(cid:6980)ु ि(cid:7385)य(cid:7298) के
काया(cid:6981)(cid:7008) वयन का उ(cid:7374)े(cid:7019) य िन(cid:7020) फल हो जाता ह ै (cid:6989) य(cid:7298)(cid:7408)क आवेदक गवेषण (cid:7079)चालन काय(cid:6981) सफलता पूव(cid:6981)क पणू (cid:6981) हो जाने के प(cid:7019) चात
उ(cid:7004) पादन प(cid:7349)ा क(cid:7409) (cid:7021) वीकृित के उपरांत खिनज(cid:7298) के खनन हते ु(cid:7079)चालन काय(cid:6981) नह(cid:7277) कर सकते ह (cid:7289)।
अब इसिलए सभी उ(cid:6989) त त(cid:7005) य(cid:7298) पर िवचार करत े (cid:7263)ए म (cid:7289) एतद ् (cid:7367)ारा का. आ. 1341 (अ) (cid:7408)दनांक 7 जून 2010 (cid:7367)ारा
जारी अिधसूचना को इस (cid:7079)भाव के साथ र(cid:7374) करता (cid:7264) ं (cid:7408)क 62 गवेषण अनु(cid:6980)ि(cid:7385)य(cid:7298) क(cid:7409) मंजूरी हते ु (cid:7408)कए गए सभी उ(cid:7004) तरवत(cid:7278) काय(cid:6981)
एतद ्(cid:7367)ारा िनर(cid:7021)त (cid:7408)कया जाता ह ै ।
[फा. सं. टी-42009/एस पी सी/सी जी बी एम/2016]
आर.के.िस(cid:7008) हा, महािनयं(cid:7074)क, भारतीय खान (cid:7011) यरू ो एवं (cid:7079)शासी
(cid:7079)ािधकारी,अपतटीय खिनज (cid:6979)(cid:7074)े (िवकास एवं िविनयमन)
MINISTRY OF MINES
(Indian Bureau of Mines)
ORDER
Nagpur, the 30th June, 2016
S.O. 2324(E).—Whereas the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 (No.17 of 2003)
(hereinafter referred to as OAMDR Act) received the assent of the President of India on the 30th January, 2003.
Whereas in exercise of the powers conferred by section 35 of the OAMDR Act, the Ministry of Mines,
Government of India notified the Offshore Areas Mineral Concession Rules, 2006 (hereinafter referred to as OAMCR)
on 3rd November, 2006.
Whereas, the Ministry of Mines by notification in the Official Gazette dated 12th February, 2010 appointed 15th
January, 2010 as the date on which the OAMDR Act and OAMCR shall come into force.
Whereas in exercise of the powers conferred under clause (a) of section 4 of the OAMDR Act, the Central
Government vide S.O.339(E) dated 11th February 2010 notified the Controller General, Indian Bureau of Mines, Nagpur
as the Administering Authority for the purposes of the said OAMDR Act.4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
Whereas in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of section 10 of OAMDR Act, the
Administering Authority notified 63 mineral bearing offshore blocks for grant of exploration licences, vide S.O.1341(E)
dated 7th June 2010 which was published in the Official Gazette dated 9th June 2010.
And whereas 377 applications were received from 53 applicants and whereas 16 applicants were shortlisted for
grant of 62 exploration blocks (the bounding latitude and longitude of Block Nos. 3 &32 falling in the Arabian Sea were
same and therefore these were considered as a single block and granted as Block No. 3).
Whereas orders for grant of exploration licences were issued by the Administering Authority on 05.04.2011 to
16 successful applicants for the 62 exploration blocks.
And whereas as per the provisions of sub-rule (1) of rule 19 of the OAMCR, where an order has been made for
the grant of exploration licence, a deed granting such license shall be executed within ninety days of the date of the
communication of the said order.
Whereas the grant of exploration licences in 62 blocks was challenged in the judicature of various High Courts.
And whereas the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature of Bombay, Nagpur Bench, vide its Order dated 28.03.2011
in Writ Petition No. 1502 of 2011, directed that all subsequent actions be kept in abeyance till the final order of the
Hon’ble High Court.
And whereas in keeping with the directions issued by the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature of Bombay, Nagpur
Bench, vide its Order dated 28.03.2011, all the 16 applicants were informed that all subsequent actions are being kept in
abeyance till the final order of the Hon’ble Court is received.
Whereas the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Nagpur Bench vide interim Order dated 28.11.2011
in Writ Petition No. 1502 of 2011 clarified that the order dated 28.03.2011 should be confined to 17 blocks for which the
petitioner has staked claim and the remaining blocks do not form the subject matter of consideration before the Court.
And whereas the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Nagpur Bench vide order dated 17.09.2013
while disposing the Writ Petition No. 1502 of 2011 ordered the continuance of the interim order dated 28.11.2011 for a
period of ten days to enable the petitioner to move an appropriate application for further continuation of the interim order
if so desired.
And whereas the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Nagpur Bench vide Order dated
27.09.2013 extended the Order dated 28.03.2011 as modified on 28.11.2011 for a further period of six weeks.
Whereas, the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad vide interim order dated
22.06.2011 in Writ Petition No. 12835 of 2011 directed that “in the meanwhile, if any steps are taken for grant of
exploration licences, the same shall be subject to further orders by this Court”. Further, another order dated 11.07.2011
was issued by the Hon’ble Court in this regard directing that “the interim order dated 22.06.2011 granted earlier shall
continue until further orders”.
And whereas the Writ Petition No. 12835 of 2011 filed in the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature of Andhra
Pradesh at Hyderabad has not been disposed as on the date of this order, and the offshore exploration licences granted
have not been executed till date.
Whereas, it has come to the notice of the Administering Authority that some of the exploration blocks notified
for grant of offshore exploration licences vide notification dated 07.06.2010 overlap with areas other than offshore area,
to which the OAMDR Act does not apply.
That the jurisdiction of OAMDR Act, applies exclusively to offshore areas which has been defined in the said
Act as the territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone and other maritime zones of India under the
Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976.
And that the grant of mineral concessions over areas other than offshore areas is regulated by the Mines and
Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957).
Whereas the Central Government vide S.O.19 (E) dated 6th January, 2011, published in the Official Gazette by
the Department of Environment, Forests and Wildlife, Ministry of Environment and Forests, has declared the extent of
the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and has also imposed certain restrictions on the setting up and expansion of
industries, operations or processes and the like in the CRZ.
And whereas the said statutory order dated 6.1.2011 states that CRZ shall also apply to the water and the bed
area between the Low Tide Line to the territorial water limit (12 Nm) in case of seas and has prohibited in the area so
identified as CRZ, inter alia, the mining of sand, rocks and other sub-strata materials except those rare minerals not
available outside the CRZ area.
And whereas all the 62 offshore blocks which were notified for grant of exploration licences vide S.O.1341(E)
dated 9th June 2010, lie within the area identified as CRZ, i.e. they lie within the territorial water limit of 12 nautical¹Hkkx IIµ[k.M 3(ii)º Hkkjr dk jkti=k % vlk/kj.k 5
mines which attracts the prohibition of mining (which means any operation undertaken for the purpose of winning any
mineral) imposed by the statutory order dated 6.1.2011 issued by the Central Government.
Whereas production lease is granted under the OAMDR Act for the purpose of winning any mineral from the
offshore area.
And whereas grant of production lease is consequential to the grant of exploration license as the OAMDR Act
provides that the holder of an exploration license shall have the exclusive right to a production lease which is the
operating right for winning of a mineral.
Whereas in view of the effect of the CRZ Notification dated 6.1. 2011 the purpose of executing the 62 offshore
exploration licences gets defeated as the applicants cannot undertake operations for winning of minerals subsequent to
the grant of production lease after the successful completion of exploration operations.
Now Therefore taking into consideration all the above stated facts, I hereby annul the Notification issued vide
S.O.1341(E) dated 7th June 2010 with effect that all subsequent actions undertaken for grant of the 62 exploration
licences hereby stand rescinded.
[F. No. T-42009/SPC/CGBM/2016]
R. K. SINHA. Controller General,
Indian Bureau of Mines and Administering Authority Offshore Areas Mineral
(Development And Regulation)
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.