Panaji, Sep 11 (Inditop.com) The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has opposed the state government’s proposal to levy land replenishment and other “green” cess on the mining industry.
In a post-budget memorandum submitted to the chief minister Friday, GCCI president Cesar Menezes said that the Rs.30 per tonne of mining reject cess was very steep and would be detrimental to the mining industry.
“The Rs.30 per tonne of mining reject charge is harsh. With a steep increase in central government’s royalties and that the Goan ore is low grade and not priced high in the international market, this additional charge will put the industry under more strain,” Menezes said.
The green cess was imposed by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who also holds the finance portfolio, on the mining industry due to the environmental damage caused by the dumping of mining rejects.
Presenting the budget July, Kamat said the green cess would help net nearly Rs.375 crore (Rs.3.75 billion) annually in the state government’s kitty. He had further said that the added cess would help even out the social and environmental toll caused by mining in the state.
Nearly 33 million tonnes of iron, manganese and bauxite ore are extracted and exported out of Goa from the more than 100 odd operational mining leases in the state.
