Section 22 in The Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 1959
22. [ Delivery of premises upon determination of license or lease.
(1)Upon determination or cancellation or relinquishment in part or in full of a license, the licensee shall deliver the area released on account of the determination or cancellation or relinquishment after restoring it in good order and condition in accordance with international practices within six months from the date of such determination or cancellation or relinquishment, or within such further time as the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, may allow.(2)In the event of lessee opting not to continue mining operations and opts to relinquish the leased area in part or in full, or a lease is to be determined, the lessee shall deliver up the area released by such relinquishment or determination of lease after restoring it in good order and condition in accordance with the abandonment plan approved by the Central Government. However, lessee shall have to give prior written notice of at least one year before the date of intended relinquishment or determination as the case may be, to the Central Government along with an abandonment plan incorporating all actions and steps necessary to restore the area in accordance with international practices, for approval of the Central Government.(3)Upon cancellation of a mining lease under these rules, the lessee shall deliver up the area covered by such lease after restoring it in good order and condition in accordance with an abandonment plan, prepared in accordance with established international practices and approval by the Central Government.(4)Upon determination or cancellation or relinquishment of a license or a lease, the holder of such license or lease, as the case may be, shall take all necessary steps to prevent consequent hazards to human life, property, environment, marine resources or navigation, to the satisfaction of the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be.](5)[ The licensee or lessee after determination, cancellation or relinquishment of his license or lease shall immediately remove and dispose of any petroleum, all stores, equipment, tools, machinery from such area.] [ Substituted by G.S.R. 813(E), dated 16.12.2004.](6)[ If such petroleum, stores, equipment, tools, machinery and improvements are not removed or disposed off and the area restored to good order and condition within six months prior to the determination, relinquishment or cancellation of the license or lease, the Central Government or the State Government as the case may be, shall proceed with the removal and disposal of such petroleum, stores, equipments tools, machinery and restore the area at the risk and cost of the licensee or lessee.(7)The net proceeds of such sale shall be held by the Central Government, or the State Government, as the case may be, until applied for and obtained by the licensee or the lessee.] [Substituted by G.S.R. 295(E), dated 1.4.2003. ]
