The State government has altered the Goa Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules to hike the quarrying lease period from 10 years to 30 years, permit the use of minor minerals extracted while dredging, and introduced a substantial hike in penalty and royalty to be paid by violators.
As per the notification issued by the Directorate of Mines and Geology, the Goa Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2024, have been introduced to streamline and expedite the processes and permissions related to minor minerals.
The State Cabinet has approved the amended rules.
Any person who intends to bring any minor mineral into the State from outside Goa will have to obtain permission from the competent authority and pay a transportation fee of Rs 800 per trip for six or fewer wheeled vehicles and Rs 1,500 per trip for vehicles exceeding six wheels.
The amendment further states that fines for illegal extraction and transportation of minor minerals have been hiked from Rs 5,000 to Rs 5 lakh and the imprisonment term has been increased to two years; and for illegally extracted and lifted minor minerals, violators will have to pay 10 times the royalty payable on such mineral for the first offense and 20 times the royalty payable on such mineral, in the case of the second and subsequent offenses.
