Mining revenue collection exceeds target in 2008-09

The collection of mining revenues in Orissa during 2008-09 has exceeded target despite the economic downturn. The collections were Rs 1331.78 crore against the target of Rs 1250 crore for the fiscal.

This is about 18.2 percent higher than the previous year’s collection of Rs 1126 crore. Strengthening of the measures to prevent theft of minerals and regular monitoring by the department has helped to exceed the target fixed for the last fiscal, sources said.

The collections in Talcher circle was Rs 442.92 crore against the target of Rs 440 crore. Similarly, the collections were Rs 275.06 crore in Samabalpur against Rs 250 crore targeted for the year.

Joda circle recorded a collection of Rs 131.92 crore compared to a target of Rs 128 crore. Jajpur road circle also exceeded the target set for the year by Rs 12.43 crore. The total collection of mining revenue in the circle during last fiscal was Rs 212.43 crore compared to a target of Rs 200 crore.

Rourkela circle’s collections were at Rs 106.73 crore compared to the target of Rs 80 crore. Similarly, the collections in Koraput mining circle exceeded the target by about Rs 39 lakhs.

The collection of mining revenue in other circles were Koira (Rs 33.01 crore), Baripada (Rs 13.87 crore), Keonjhar (Rs15.23 crore), Cuttack (Rs 11.5 crore), Berhampur (Rs 10.05 crore), Bolangir (Rs 11.29 crore), Kalahandi (Rs 8.83 crore).

While Talcher circle recorded highest collections, Phulbani circle recorded the lowest (Rs 3.48 crore). Interestingly, all the circles exceeded the target.

However, the state level Central squad formed to check illegal activities in mining, could not be functional as the police personnel have not joined the squad yet. The Kandhamal incident and the general elections have necessitated mobilization of large number of policemen. So the required police personnel could not join the squad, sources added.