5. Notice of abandonment, closure or discontinuance or reopening of mine.
(1)When it is intended to abandon or close a mine or discontinue a mine or working thereof for a period exceeding four months, the owner, agent or manager of the mine shall give a notice in the Form and method specified by the Chief Inspector of Mines for the purpose, to the Chief Inspector of Mines, the Regional Inspector and District Magistrate stating the reasons for such abandonment or closure or discontinuance and the number of persons likely to be affected thereby, not less than thirty days before such closure or discontinuance:Provided that where the mine is abandoned or closed or discontinued before giving the notice for a period exceeding four months in an unforeseen circumstance, the owner, agent or manager of the mine shall give notice forthwith.(2)When a mine is abandoned or closed or working thereof has been discontinued for a period exceeding four months, the owner, agent or manager of the mine shall, within fourteen days of closure or expiry of such discontinuance, give to the Chief Inspector of Mines, the Regional Inspector and the District Magistrate, notice in the Form and method specified by the Chief Inspector of Mines for the purpose.(3)When it is intended to reopen a mine after abandonment, closure or discontinuance for a period exceeding four months, the owner, agent or manager of the mine shall, not less than thirty days before resumption of mining operations, give to the Chief Inspector of Mines, the Regional Inspector and the District Magistrate, notice in the Form and method specified by the Chief Inspector of Mines for the purpose.(4)When a mine is reopened, the owner, agent or manager of the mine shall forthwith communicate the actual date of reopening to the Chief Inspector of Mines, the Regional Inspector and the District Magistrate.
