Centre to change MMDR Act to break mining impasse, to hike royalty
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 10 July 2014 17:06 IST
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to amend the MMDR Act to resolve the ongoing impasse in the iron ore mining sector, which has also hit Goa.
Union finance minister Arun Jaitley has also said royalty on all the minerals would be revised.
The whole mining sector is run mainly with a regulation through Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
The Supreme Court had banned mining in Karnataka, Goa, Odisha and few other states as illegal mining of iron ore led to heavy destruction of environment and illegalities were committed in violation of the MMDR Act.
“The current impasse in mining sector, including, iron ore mining, will be resolved expeditiously. Changes, if necessary, in the MMDR Act, 1957 would be introduced to facilitate this,” said Jaitley in his maiden budget speech today.
Goa’s mining industry, which was considered to be the backbone of the economy of the coastal state, has come to a halt since October 2012, when the Supreme Court banned all the mining operations.
Though the ban was lifted in April this year, not a single mine has started since last three months as the whole industry needs to undergo several formalities laid down by the apex court.
“It is my Government’s intention to encourage investment in mining sector and promote sustainable mining practices to adequately meet the requirements of industry without sacrificing environmental concerns,” Jaitley stated in his budget speech.
He also said the royalty on minerals would be revised to ensure greater revenue to the state governments and the revision is due since 2012.
“The rate of Royalty can be revised after a period of three years. Last revision took place in August, 2009. Therefore, another revision, which is due, will be undertaken to ensure greater revenue to the State Governments.”
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Mining Royalty Should Go In The Hands Of The Villagers Through Swaraj Act. Mining Royalty For All Goans. Affected Or Not Affected By Mining. Dependent Or Not Depend On Mining. Mining Royalty For All Goans.
- Jose Rod, Goa | 11 th July 2014 15:46
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