Maharashtra Cabinet, in its meeting held on Wednesday in Mumbai, gave its nod to allowing extraction and transport of minor minerals at night, ‘if required’ for infrastructure and water resources projects of Central or State Governments. Besides, it also cleared revision in rates of royalty and dead rent for 31 minor minerals. Uddhav Thackeray, Chief Minister, chaired the cabinet meeting. State Cabinet gave its nod to effecting requisite amendments in this regard to Maharashtra Minor Minerals Extraction (Development and Regulation) Act, 2013. As per the cabinet decision, Divisional Commissioner concerned can allow extraction and transport of minor minierals even at night, ‘if required’, for infrastructure development or water resources projects of Central or State Governments. Besides, the families from Kumbhar (potter) and Wadar communities that are still into traditional occupations of mining, they will be allowed to extract minerals either using explosives for blasting or without making use of explosives. According to sources, the prevailing laws allow extraction/blasting for extraction of minerals only ‘from sunrise to sunset’ and not at night. For, blasting is not allowed at night considering mines safety issues, said sources. As far as transportation is concerned, it was allowed at night but issues cropped up when the administrative authorities did not allow it at some places. There were litigations too in this regard.

 

Against this backdrop, the State Cabinet decision comes as a new thing in case of extraction and as an official approval to transportation at night. The real import of the decision will be seen only when it is implemented on ground. Also, State Cabinet took another decision vide which transporter or mining lease holder will have to pay regulation charges and service charges per metric tonne or per brass to State Government in accordance with charges prescribed from time to time by the Stat Government. Further, in case of appeals against the District Collector’s order under the provisions of Maharashtra Minor Minerals Extraction (Development and Regulation) Act, 2013, can be filed with Additional Divisional Commissioner too apart from Divisional Commissioner. In another step, State Cabinet decided to revise rates of royalty and dead rent for 31 minor minerals.

 

‘Dead Rent’ means minimum guaranteed amount of royalty per year payable as per rules of agreement under a mining lease. As per the decision, royalty rates for mineral agate (common rock formation) and corundum will be Rs 200/- per metric tonne or 20 per cent of sale price, whichever is higher. In case of china clay, dolomite, fire clay, laetrite, quartzite, shell, silica sand and other declared minor minerals, the royalty will be Rs 100/- per metric tonne or 10 per cent of sale price, whichever is higher. Royalty payable will be Rs 100/- pe metric tonne or 20 per cent of sale price, whichever is higher, in case of Felspar; Rs 150/- per metric tonne or 20 per cent of sale price, whichever is higher, in case of Pyrophyllite; Rs 120/- per metric tonne or 10 per cent of sale price, whichever is higher, in case of Quartz. The rate of dead rent will be Rs 9,000/- per hectare, as per the cabinet decision.