Welcoming the Centre's decision of revising mineral royalty, Odisha government today demanded arrears for the state.
"We are happy that the Centre has revised the royalty of minerals. But, the state should also be given arrears for two years from 2012 to 2014," state steel and mines minister Prafulla Mallick told reporters.
Political leaders cutting across party lines welcomed the union cabinet's decision to revise the mineral royalties.
Leader of the Opposition, Narasingha Mishra said the state could have got more money in its exchequer long back if it had accepted the proposals of the former government at the centre.
Stating that the state has benefited more than its expectation, BJP state president K V Singhdeo said "The NDA government has fulfilled the demand and requirement of the state just within 100 days of coming to power. Modi government has been fulfilling Odisha's demand one by one."
The Centre has approved to hike the royalty rate on iron ore from existing 10 to 15 per cent. However, there has been no change on the rates of coal and lignite.
Royalty rates for minerals were last hiked in 2009 with ad valorem taxes imposed on a host of minerals, including iron, coal, rock phosphate, bauxite and copper.
