Stringent rules from tomorrow to curtain illegal mining
PTI, PANAJI | 14 August 2012 16:18 IST
Goa government has decided to implement stringent regulations on the mining industry in the state from August 15 onwards, with an aim to curtail unregulated and illegal mining in the state.
Directorate of Mines and Geology in its letter to the association of mine owners, exporters and barges (ship carrying ore) owners has asked them to adhere to the new regulations, failing which strict action is prescribed in the notification.
As per the new regulations, the mine owners will lose licence to operate, if the trucks employed by him violate the law 25 times.
"If overloading of 25 or more carrier/trucks is found from any lease area, the proposal shall be moved to the government for termination of the lease," the notification issued by Director of Mines Prasanna Acharya reads.
Acharya has said that since new mining season is about to begin (in September), it is important to regulate the transportation of ore so as to maintain a proper account of ore for computation of royalty and other dues payable to the government.
The regulations, he said, is also to ensure that mining transport is regulated through respective lease holders or traders irrespective of the fact whether the transportation of ore is carried by lease holders or traders directly or otherwise.
The licence of lease holder has been threatened to be cancelled, if they don't install electronic weigh bridge with necessary software to generate transit pass or permits as specified by the directorate.
The overloading of the trucks has been strictly prevented and truck overloading the ore, will be fined for Rs five lakh.
The permit generated on the weigh bridge should be pasted on the windshield of the truck. The barges (ships which carry ore from jetties to the harbour) will have to be registered with the Directorate of Mines and Geology.
No barge without registration will be allowed to ply.
The state government has given time till August 27 for registration of the barges. The ships have also been asked not to indulge in carrying the ore which has been extracted illegally.
The government should have mechanism to check the load of the vehicle, before it leaves, mine zone, the main purpose of the limitation is stop the damages/accidents and to give safety of the people.
There n number of business entities are not registered with the VAT departments even their turnover is huge.
But only few people are getting notices and asked them for comply with VAT regulations though their turnover is very less compared to the limit of Rs. 5 lacs for the local dealer.
These small business who are not registered and doing business for years, the government should be lenient, and motivate them to for VAT registration.