PANJIM: Looking forward for a positive legal response towards the resumption of the iron ore mining industry, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has calculated Rs 500 crore revenue, from the mining sector for the next financial year 2020-21.
Sawant on Thursday presented the State Budget 2020-21 on the floor of the House, wherein he said that the “priority in this budget is the resumption of mining and allied activities”.
The Chief Minister mentioned that the Supreme Court has allowed the transportation of royalty paid iron ore upto March 15, 2018.
He also said that the government has already filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against its judgment dated February 7, 2018 banning mining activities and an interlocutory application for allowing handling of dumps as per the recommendation of Central Empowered Committee (CEC) report.
“We are looking forward for a positive outcome. We have marked around Rs 500 crore revenue, from the mining sector in the budget,” he said.
Sawant added that the 15th Finance Commission has noted that the ban on mining has exerted tremendous pressure on the State economy. “The Commission has assured that they would consider difficulties arising out of closure of mining in Goa, while considering the tax devolution,” he said in the budget speech.
In a bid to diversify from its traditional sectors of mining and tourism for future development, the Chief Minister added that the State can be developed into an educational and health hub.
