PANJIM: The State government has notified an amendment to the Goa (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Storage and Transportation of Minerals) Rules, 2013, to allow import of iron ore from other States for export purposes through Mormugao Port Authority (MPA).
The Cabinet had in December granted its nod to the proposal which will help the government generate additional revenue by way of Rs 50 per tone cess, processing fees and other incidental revenue opportunities.
Director Mines Suresh Shanbhogue in a notification issued has said that no person or company or firm other than an end-user or leaseholder registered under Rule 45 of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017, would be allowed to import mineral from any State or Union Territory within India or from outside India for consumption or export within Goa.
He also said that all the imports would be by rail route or road at the cost of importers under the strict supervision of the Mines Department and that only the registered leaseholder or end-user would be allowed to take up transportation and exporter will thereafter be allowed to export material through barges.
“The lease holders shall be responsible for safe custody and accounting of the mineral till the mineral reaches end-users dockyards or jetty stockyards or Mormugao Port Authority,” the notification stated, adding that registered users would be accountable for storing of the mineral.
The department has also said that separate import permits would be issued for import of minerals for domestic consumption and for export. “The mineral imported for domestic consumption shall not be diverted for export and vice versa. The mineral procured from any State or Union Territory within India either for domestic consumption or for export shall not be sold/exchanged with any other person/ entity,” it said.
The State government had received representation from stakeholders requesting to allow them import of iron ore from Karnataka by road or railways specifically for export from MPA. Presently, ore is being imported from Karnataka to Goa for domestic consumption only.
