TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: A day after Union Cabinet hiked iron ore royalty rates from 10 per cent to 15 per cent, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday told the Goa Legislative Assembly that the State will demand a roll back of the royalty on the low grade ore as the international prices have crashed since 2013.
Parrikar, also the State Mines Minister assured that he would recover the mining loot and initiate action against those involved in the illegal mining as soon as the Chartered Accountant (CA) appointed to verify the assets of the mining firms submit their report, quantifying the exact loss and those responsible for it. Replying during the discussion on Rs 10,526 crore Goa Appropriate Bill 2014, Parrikar said that the royalty on low grade ore of less than 58 per cent Fe should be 10 per cent, while it can be 15 per cent on the higher grade ore. The chief minister said that he would take up the matter with the union government.
Chief minister said that international prices of iron ore have crashed and the concept of windfall profit which existed between 2009 to 2012 is gone. “The ore which is below 54 degree Fe cannot be exported as it is not affordable due to falling prices. If that happens, our dumps (rejected iron ore) will not be exported,” Parrikar said.
Parrikar announced that he would give administrative approval to the scheme to repay the loan for trucks, barges and mining machinery owners on Thursday evening and the same would be notified by Friday or next week and implementation to begin from August 26. He said that additional provision of Rs 230 crore has been made in the supplementary demand apart from Rs 150 crore as announced in the Budget.
On the Regional Plan, chief minister reiterated that government would look into the plan after resolving the mining issue. He also defended government decision to set up investment promotion board by stating that the step has been initiated to speed up the process for clearing investment proposals.
Parrikar also said that by March 2015, almost 90 per cent of the promises made in the Budget 2013-14 would be fulfilled. The House passed the State Budget 2014-15.
Rane against setting of GIB
Says if mining does not resume by year end, State may witness suicides
Leader of the Opposition Pratapsing Rane strongly objected the setting up of Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board by introducing Goa Investment Promotion Bill 2014, Thursday. Rane voiced his apprehension that with the passing of Bill it will overrule all the powers of Town and Country Planning and other important acts.
“There is need to have some amendment to the Bill or else Goa won’t be the same. It would be just investment and investment,” he commented.
Rane said that the State government cannot continue giving doles to the people. “How much doles we are going to give? Start mining immediately,” he said.
