PESHAWAR, Jan 28: Small-scale miners of precious and semi-precious gemstone must follow the techniques approved for development and mining operations in the areas leased out to them.

They are bound to get prior permission from the licensing authority in case they introduce changes in the development and exploitation scheme okayed at the time of signing of lease deed.

This is envisaged in the NWFP government’s new “small-scale gemstone mining policy” unveiled on Jan 15.

Under this policy, the miners would be acted against if they violated the approved mining and exploitation techniques.

“Any proposed changes in mining techniques shall be brought to the notice of the Licensing Authority for acceptance,” the policy document states.

The applicant would have to get approved location and description of major deposits, mining method to be applied, machinery and equipment to be installed and the estimated expenditure to be incurred on the scheme, supported by necessary maps and plans, before signing of the lease deed.

Earlier, according to official sources, small-scale miners were regulated under the NWFP Mining Concession Rules, 1976, that govern the whole of provincial mining sector.

The policy has been formulated to simplify procedure for the applicants seeking award of mining area and effectively regulate the neglected small-scale gemstone miners, the official sources said.

Under the policy, a five-year mining lease would be granted for mining areas involving up to five acres to the interested parties who would be required to submit their applications to the Director General Mines and Minerals, NWFP, designated as the licensing authority.

In view of the sensitivity of the minerals (precious and semi-precious gemstone) and the small size of the mining area (maximum up to five acres), the policy stipulates that no mining area would be leased out within 200 yards of the already granted mining area.

For the purpose of making decisions on the processed applications, the policy also asks for the establishment of a pre-qualification of bid/bid approval committee.

Mining within 100 yards from any railway track, water reservoir, mosque/worship places, canal, road or any other public building or works or residential sites would not be allowed without prior permission from the licensing authority.

Similarly, the lessee would pay the agreed surface rent/land compensation money to the genuine landowners for the mining area allotted to him.

In this respect, to ensure transparency and avoid legal complications, the amount of surface rent would need to be registered in the local court of law. The licensing authority would settle the amount of surface rent with the owners of land.

The policy provides that “in case where this policy is silent, the NWFP mining concession rules, 1976, will be enforced in full capacity provided it is not in contradiction to any part of this policy. The local administration/police will provide protection to the applicant for safe and peaceful working of his granted mineral.”

Besides, the new policy also sets rules and procedures required for the renewal of mining lease at the expiry of five-year term of the leased out mine.