Goa chamber of commerce opposes ‘green’ cess on mining
September 11th, 2009 - 4:22 pm ICT by IANSPanaji, Sep 11 (IANS) The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has opposed the state government’s proposal to levy land replenishment and other “green” cess on the mining industry.
In a post-budget memorandum submitted to the chief minister Friday, GCCI president Cesar Menezes said that the Rs.30 per tonne of mining reject cess was very steep and would be detrimental to the mining industry.
“The Rs.30 per tonne of mining reject charge is harsh. With a steep increase in central government’s royalties and that the Goan ore is low grade and not priced high in the international market, this additional charge will put the industry under more strain,” Menezes said.
The green cess was imposed by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who also holds the finance portfolio, on the mining industry due to the environmental damage caused by the dumping of mining rejects.
Presenting the budget July, Kamat said the green cess would help net nearly Rs.375 crore (Rs.3.75 billion) annually in the state government’s kitty. He had further said that the added cess would help even out the social and environmental toll caused by mining in the state.
Nearly 33 million tonnes of iron, manganese and bauxite ore are extracted and exported out of Goa from the more than 100 odd operational mining leases in the state.
- 'Green cess' on mines not scrapped, only delayed, says Goa - Oct 30, 2009
- Goa's tourism, mining sectors sulk at budget proposals - Feb 28, 2011
- Goa asks mining industry to pitch in Rs.500 crore - Mar 25, 2010
- Goa businessmen want life imprisonment for illegal mining - Feb 24, 2010
- Goa Inc quotes Chidambaram to remind Kamat about failed promises - Jan 25, 2011
- BJP alleges corruption in state's mining affairs - Oct 10, 2009
- Hike in iron ore export duty irks Goa mining industry - Jan 04, 2012
- '25 mn tonnes illegal ore extracted in five years in Goa' - Nov 23, 2011
- Goan NRIs campaign against illegal mining - Jan 22, 2012
- Vedanta Resources mines operated illegally in Goa: minister - Mar 17, 2011
- Mining firms encroaching on government land: Kamat - Apr 06, 2011
- Goa, mining firms talks on creating corridor stalemated - Jul 21, 2011
- Goa mine owners stashed black money in Swiss banks: CPI - Apr 29, 2011
- BJP manifesto promises Goa Lokayukta within 100 days - Feb 19, 2012
- Iron ore barge owners want cap on vessels - Nov 11, 2011
Tags: bauxite ore, central government, cess, chamber of commerce and industry, chief minister, crore, environmental damage, finance portfolio, gcci, goa, goan, iron manganese, kamat, menezes, mining industry, mining leases, replenishment, royalties, sep 11, steep increase