Team Herald
PANJIM: In a bid to regulate transportation of minor minerals within the State, the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has directed the vehicle owners to register themselves and their vehicles by installing Global Positioning System (GPS) with the department before April 1, 2018.
The vehicle owners have to register themselves upon payment of one-time registration fee of Rs 5,000 for transportation of minerals from April 1 onwards.
DMG Director Prasanna Acharya said transportation of major minerals and its regulation has been a complete success and has helped in efficient monitoring of transportation, collection of royalty, curbing illegal activities and above all has reduced pollution and prevented accidents.
“Hence, government has decided to also regulate minor mineral transportation with the aim to stop illegal mining of minerals, proper collection of government revenue, public safety and proper accounting of mineral extracted in the State,” Acharya said.
However, the department reserves the right to restrict either number of vehicles to be registered or to declare a cut of date of registration, in the near future.
For last couple of months, several vehicles were confiscated by the department for illegal transportation of sand, basalt, laterite, etc.
The department is currently in process of drafting Minor Mineral Policy for the State. The department is also considering adopting the Mining Surveillance System (MSS) and Star Rating system for the minor minerals, which is already in force for major minerals across country.
