(1)In opencast workings, the benches formed shall be so arranged that the benches in mineral and overburden are separated so as to avoid mixing of waste with mineral.(2)(i)In alluvial soil, murrum, gravel, clay or other similar ground, the sides shall be slopped at an angle of safety not exceeding 45 degrees from horizontal or such other angle as the Deputy Director may permit by an order in writing;(ii)the sides shall be kept benched, and the height of any bench shall not exceed 1.5 metre and the breadth thereof shall not be less than the height;(iii)the benches in overburden shall be kept sufficiently in advance so that their workings do not interfere with the working of mineral;(iv)The overburden and waste material obtained during mining operations shall not be allowed to be mixed with non-salable or sub-grade minerals. They shall be dumped and stacked separately;(v)The mining operations shall be carried out in workmen-like manner and in accordance with the provisions of the State and Central Acts and rules wherever applicable;(vi)The Collector of the district concerned or any officer authorised by the State Government if in his opinion the compliance with the provisions thereof not reasonably practicable, may, by any order in writing and subject to such conditions as he may specify therein, exempt from the operation of these rules for any workings in those cases in which special difficulties exist:Provided that all sand quarries, operated by co-operative societies/ associations of scheduled tribe/caste/backward classes and educated unemployed and an individual member of scheduled tribe/caste and backward classes shall be exempted from compliance of these rules subject to the condition that loose stones and debris shall not be allowed to remain within a distance of three metre form the edge of excavation and no undercutting of any face or side is caused to permit any overhanging.
