(1)

Every holder of a prospecting licence, prospecting license-cum-mining lease or a mining lease shall, wherever top soil exists and is to be excavated for prospecting or mining operations, remove it separately.

(2)

The top soil so removed shall be utilised for restoration or rehabilitation of the land which is no longer required for prospecting or mining operations or for stabilising or landscaping the external dumps.

(3)

Whenever the top soil is unable to be utilised concurrently, it shall be stored separately for future use.