Section 151 of The Central Provinces Land-Revenue Act, 1881
Unless it is otherwise expressly provided in the records of a settlement or by the terms of a grant made by the Government, the right to all mines, minerals, coals and quarries, and to all fisheries in navigable rivers, and the right to extract sap from all palmyra and cocoanut trees, shall be deemed to belong to Government; and the Government shall have all powers necessary for the proper enjoyment of such rights: Provided that, whenever in the exercise by the Government of the rights herein referred to over any land, the rights of any persons are infringed by the occupation or disturbance of the surface of such land, the Government shall pay to such persons compensation for such infringement, and the amount of such compensation shall be determined as nearly as may be in accordance with the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 1870.
Summary
- This section declares that the Government legally owns all natural resources and specific extraction rights unless a settlement record or official grant explicitly says otherwise.
- The rights claimed by the Government include all mines, minerals, coals, quarries, and fisheries located in navigable rivers.
- The Government also holds the exclusive right to extract sap from all palmyra and coconut trees on the land.
- The Government is granted all the necessary powers to properly access and use these natural resources.
- If the Government disturbs or occupies the surface of a person's land while extracting these resources, it must pay compensation to the affected person.
- The amount of compensation paid for land damage is calculated using the rules set out in the Land Acquisition Act of 1870.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. Who owns the minerals found on private land according to Section 151 of The Central Provinces Land-Revenue Act, 1881?
Under Section 151 of the Act, all minerals, coals, and quarries belong to the Government unless a specific grant or settlement record states otherwise.
2. Does the Government have to pay me if they ruin my land while mining under Section 151 of the 1881 Land-Revenue Act?
Yes. Section 151 of the 1881 Land-Revenue Act requires the Government to pay compensation if their extraction activities infringe on your rights by disturbing or occupying the surface of your land.
3. How is the compensation calculated for land damage under Section 151 of The Central Provinces Land-Revenue Act, 1881?
Section 151 of the Act states that the compensation amount is determined as closely as possible in accordance with the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 1870.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 151 of The Central Provinces Land-Revenue Act, 1881, which of the following natural resources is explicitly listed as belonging to the Government?
Q2.What condition must be met for a private citizen to own the coal under their land according to Section 151 of the 1881 Land-Revenue Act?
Q3.If the Government damages the surface of a farmer's field while extracting sap from trees, what law governs the compensation according to Section 151 of The Central Provinces Land-Revenue Act, 1881?
Q4.Under Section 151 of The Central Provinces Land-Revenue Act, 1881, which types of trees does the Government specifically hold the right to extract sap from?