Maximum area for which operating rights may be granted

    ¹[13A. Maximum area for which operating rights may be granted.--(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 12 or section 13, no person shall acquire in respect of any mineral or a group of associated minerals, as may be prescribed, one or more exploration licence, composite licence and production lease, all taken together and covering a total area of more than forty-five minutes latitude by forty-five minutes longitude:
     Provided that if the Central Government is of the opinion that in the interest of the development of any mineral or industry, it is necessary so to do, it may, for the reasons to be recorded in writing, increase or decrease the said area limit in respect of any mineral or any specified category of deposits of such mineral or such group of associated minerals.
     (2) For the purposes of this section, a person acquiring by, or in the name of, another person an operating right which is intended for himself, shall be deemed to be acquiring it himself.
     (3) For the purposes of determining the total area referred to in sub-section (1), the area held under an operating right by a person as a member of a co-operative society, or a company, or a corporation, or a Hindu undivided family, or a partner of a firm, shall be deducted from the area referred to in sub-section (1) so that the sum total of the area held by such person, under an operating right, whether as such member or partner, or individually, may not, in any case, exceed the total area specified in sub-section (1).]