Odisha to impose levy on e-permits for minerals

The Odisha government has decided to impose levy of Rs 1 per tonne on mineral transported through the electronic route.

The state cabinet on Tuesday okayed an amendment to the Odisha Minerals (Prevention of Theft, Smuggling and Illegal Mining and Regulation of Possession, Storage and Transport) Rules-2007 to enable the imposition of this user fee.

“The proceeds of the levy on minerals transported through the e-route will be used for maintaining IT infrastructure. The user fee will be currently applicable to iron ore and later extended to coal which is also going to be brought under e-permit,” said state chief secretary B K Patnaik after the cabinet meeting. E-permits for mineral raising and trading were introduced by the state steel & mines department under integrated Mines & Minerals Management System (i3MS).

Meanwhile, enthused by actual paddy procurement of 2.88 million tonnes in 2011-12 which surpassed the stipulated target of 2.80 million tonnes, the state government has set a procurement target of three million tonnes for 2012-13. The target is as per the paddy procurement policy finalized by the cabinet.

“Of the total paddy procurement of 2.88 million tonnes for 2011-12, state owned Odisha Civil Supplies Corporation alone procured 2.55 million tonnes. Food Corporation of India (FCI) procured merely 5373 tonnes compared to the assigned target of 50,000 tonnes,” said state chief secretary B K Patnaik.

These apart, cabinet endorsed 12 other proposals relating to health, education, wild life, transport sectors.