Naveen asks Dinsha to enhance royalty rates, dead rent soon

With Odisha losing an estimated Rs 2,190 crore per annum due to delay in revision of royalty rates and dead rent of major minerals, the state government today demanded immediate action by the Centre to avoid the loss, official sources said.
"I would, therefore, urge upon the Central government to kindly appreciate our concern and enhance the rates of royalty and dead rent without any further delay," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote in a letter to Union Minister Dinsha J Patel.
Stating that the study group on revision of rates of royalty and dead rent of major minerals (other than coal, lignite and sand for stowing) had submitted a report during June, Patnaik pointed out that Odisha government had given suggestions to the group time to time.

The state government gave its views on rates of royalty, rates of dead rent, price-fixing mechanism, imposition of mineral resource rent tax and e-auction of minerals, Patnaik said in the letter.
The rates of royalty and dead rent were last revised by the Government of India with effect from August 13, 2009 and the enhancement in the rates of royalty and dead rent was due from August 2012, the letter said.
The sources said the state was losing an estimated Rs 6 crore towards royalty and dead rent every day due to the delay.
Patnaik requested Dinsha to revise the royalty with effect from August 13, 2012, the date due for such revision.