PANJIM: Following the expose of illegal smuggling of basalt stone into Goa, Mines and Geology Department is exploring the possibility of earning some revenue from imported minerals.
Mines and Geology Director Prassana Acharya said that in view of no revenue earned by the government on imported minerals, the department is trying to streamline and regulate the import of minor minerals from other states on lines with major minerals.
“In case no revenue is earned on imported material from outside the State we are now also exploring earning some regulatory fees for the State government,” Acharya said.
He said that department is considering levying taxes as the free transportation of minerals from outside the State impacts the legal extractor in the State.
Herald had exposed how hundreds of trucks carrying basalt stones enter the State without paying any taxes to the government.
Herald had carried out a day-long operation in the ghat section of Chorla in Sattari and discovered the shocking act by which the State is losing lakhs of rupees in revenue daily.
