PANAJI
The erstwhile mining leaseholders will now have to pay “premium” amount apart from royalty for handling iron ore dumps, lying across lease bound and outside lease areas.
The Directorate of Mines and Geology has issued an amendment to its existing policy on the regulation of iron ore dump handling in the state, adding a new financial obligation for applicants, particularly erstwhile lease holders.
According to the amended notification, a “premium” amount will now be applicable along with the existing royalty and statutory compliance requirements for handling iron ore dumps.
The department has said that the premium per tonne, payable by the applicant or erstwhile lease holder, will be determined by the government from time to time.
As per the dump handling policy, notified in September 2023, allows the erstwhile leaseholders to handle dumps, allegedly generated by them prior to 2012.
It also allowed them to handle the the low-grade ore dumped in private land or another mining lease that was never operated.
The government decided to allow handling of such dump only after conversion fees for regulating these dumps on private lands is paid apart from payment of royalty.
Mining companies would be permitted to remove the dumps within five years.
