Team Herald
PANJIM: The Directorate of Mines and Geology has amended the Goa Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1985, to regularise brick quarries and to authorise inter-State transportation of sand and basalt.
It has also amended Rule 7 (A) wherein no person shall commence quarrying operation in any area except in accordance with a quarrying plan approved under sub-rule (3) or (4) of rule 7 of the Act.
According to notification issued by Director of Mines and Geology and Ex-Officio Joint Secretary (Mines and Geology) Vivek H P, any person who intends to bring any minor minerals into the State from outside Goa, will have to apply to the competent officer, to issue a permit stating the nature, quantity and origin of the minor mineral.
The notification further states that if the competent officer does not approve or seek modification to the quarrying plan within a period specified in sub-rule (3) or does not approve or disapprove the modified quarrying plan within a period specified in sub-rule (4), then the applicant will be entitled to commence the quarrying operation in accordance with the quarrying plan or modified quarrying plan, as the case may be, submitted by him, subject to the condition that quarrying to be done is in an area as determined by the government”.
The holder of quarrying lease will have to submit a quarrying plan within a period of 60 days from the date of commencement of the Goa Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2021, to the competent officer for approval, and the provisions of sub-rules (3) to (6) of rule 7 will mutatis mutandis, apply.”
For transportation of minor minerals with motor vehicles with less than six wheels the applicant will have to pay Rs 500 as permit fees, while vehicles transporting minor minerals above six wheels will have to pay Rs 1000 as processing fee.
