Chief Minister Pramod Sawant held a meeting with the mines department officials on accelerating various decisions it has taken for the resumption of mining activities.
Sawant was accompanied by advocate general Devidas Pangam and chief secretary Parimal Rai at the directorate of mines and geology office.
Sawant stated that they have discussed various issues including the resumption of mining activities besides other policy decisions.
He further said that the department has already submitted mining related details to the Union government and visiting the mines department for discussion was helpful as they had access to all the files for references.
The directorate is likely to pass an order by November concerning the recovery of money in illegal mining cases based on an audit report submitted by a team of chartered accountants.
In August, the state government had informed the high court that the directorate will decide within four months on the show cause notices to mining companies for recovery of over Rs 3000 crore.
Revised rates for Ore Transport
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reached to a cordial solution to the ore transportation rate issue with the truck owners associations and mining companies.
Under the revised rates, the transportation charge for less than 10km is Rs. 14.5, between 10-20km Rs 14, and Rs 13.5 for above 20km. The rates are calculated against the diesel price of Rs 52 per litre.
A senior government official stated that the new rates would be applicable for the transportation of e-auctioned ore and royalty paid ore.
As per the 2017 rates, trucks were paid Rs. 12.5 for the first 10 km and thereafter, Rs 11.5 between 20 to 30km.
During the first meeting held to revise the rate, truck owners’ associations had demanded that it be fixed at Rs 17.5 for the first 10km.
Recently the Supreme Court granted mining companies time till the end of January 2021 to transport ore and further directed the state government to take possession of the ore lying at mining leases at the end of this period by invoking power under the Mineral Concession Rule, but after serving a one-month notice.
Sawant had stated that over four million tonne of iron ore is lying in the state and that the order will allow mining activities in the state.
Xykno Capital to advise state over MDO for MP coal block
The steering committee on Public Private Partnership (PPP) cell, headed by the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant shortlisted Xykno Capital Services Ltd as a consultant for selecting mine developer and operator (MDO) for Dongri Tal-II, phase I coal block allotted to Goa Industrial Development Corporation at Singrauli coal field in Madhya Pradesh.
The meeting of the steering committee on PPP held in Panaji was attended by the Chief Secretary Parimal Rai, officials of Goa-IDC and
others.
After the meeting, Sawant said that it has been decided to float a request for proposal (RFP) by November 10 for selection of mine developer and operator for coal block allotted to Goa-IDC in Madhya Pradesh.
He further stated that this project will be developed in public-private partnership mode and the consultant shortlisted for selecting MDO has already been in coal mining.
“This project will be developed in public-private partnership mode. The consultant shortlisted for selecting MDO has already been in coal mining,” he added.
The Dongri Tal-II coal block at Singrauli was allotted to Goa Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) as part of the fifth tranche of allotment by the Coal Ministry, last year. The coal mines have been allotted to state governments for sale of coal under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015.
