Porvorim, Aug 9 (TNN): The state government collected 426 crore as a fee from mining companies for regulating mining dumps on government and private land. Out of 426 crore, the government collected 240 crore from the North and 186 crore from South Goa.
Deputy chief minister Francis D' Souza said that there is no implication of the Supreme Court decision on illegal mining in Goa, on the policy framed under the Land Revenue Code. The state policy deals with regulating mining dumps on government and private land, thereby causing illegal conversion of land from agricultural to non-agricultural use under Section 33 of the Land Revenue code 1968 (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Money has been collected from mining leaseholders who would have to convert their land to non-agricultural purposes, since iron ore has been stacked on it. The state government had recently announced a policy, charging conversion fees on land occupied by mining rejects.
Till October 3, 2013, the state government had collected 186 crore in the form of fees for converting land occupied by rejected mining ore, from agricultural to non-agricultural purposes, but it was later extended till November 3, 2013.
The government had said that unclaimed iron ore dumps left over during land conversion would be taken over by the state government and auctioned.