Guidelines on Environmental Restoration Bond, 2025.

These Guidelines are concerned with the Environmental Restoration Bond (ERB), a security deposit required from mining lessees to ensure mine reclamation and environmental restoration upon the surrender, termination, or expiration of a mining lease, in line with sections 70 and 71 of Mines and Minerals Management Regulations, 2022. The mining lessees are required to carry out reclamation and restoration work in the mine or quarry on surrender, termination, or the expiry of the mining lease and reclaim the bond upon certification by the Department of Geology and Mines (DGM). However, if the lessee fails to carry out the reclamation and restoration works as per the Final Mine Feasibility Study or up to the satisfaction of the DGM, the bond shall be utilized to cover the cost of reclamation and restoration works. Guidelines are provided for the operation and management of the ERB, refund of ERB, or forfeiture of the ERB by the DGM.