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PANJIM: The government has sent notices to seven more mining leases to pay stamp duty, with Fomentos having already paid Rs 21 crores, to the government, for its two leases, officials said. These seven are in addition to the 16 that have already paid stamp duty.
A total of 337 mining lease holders, including 118 operational mines, have submitted their applications for renewal or extension of leases for 20 years. However, the government has identified some 42 leases that it claims are relatively ‘clean’ as far as clearances are concerned and within the parameters of the law.
Till date 16 leases in addition to the seven issued notices have recently been cleared.
The government is targeting total revenue of some Rs 400 crore from stamp duty, sources said.
It may be recalled that this move has stirred up controversy with the Union Ministry of Mines shooting off a copy of the letter addressed to Orissa government to all State governments which says that basic Central government permissions were needed before renewal of mining leases and permissions from the Indian Bureau of Mines and assessment of amount of mineral left in the lease, feasibility and other such criteria need to be adhered to.
The two-page directives received by State Directorate of Mines come on the heels of the communiqué from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests stating that leases cannot be renewed in case any part of the mining lease comes within forest areas and for which forest clearance has to be obtained.
