After a long lull the government has allowed lease extension of all the mines shut down in the want to various statuary clearances for years. The Cabinet has approved the proposal that would provide extension of mining lease up to 2020 for non-captive mines and till 2030 for captive mines.
In Jharkhand 21 iron ore mines got closed for want of forest and environmental clearances. “The Cabinet has taken a historic decision that would clear all the hurdles coming in the way of mining in the State. All the leaseholders having deemed extension would be given lease for mining though mining can be permitted only after their cases pending in the courts get cleared and they abide by all the desired clearances and the royalties are paid,” said Mines and Geology Secretary Sunil Kuamr Barnwal on Wednesday after the meeting.
Besides the iron ore mines, 105 mines of mica, bauxite, graphite and other minerals would also be allowed lease pending at one go. The Secretary added that the exchequer besides getting benefited from royalty would also get contribution in the District Mining Fund (DMF) come up in all the districts.
The Government, at the same time, also amended rules for DMF where apart from rural areas urban localities having mines would also get benefits of the schemes running out of royalty. “Also royalty in the DMF would come from minor minerals as well which was not the case before. In the case those minor minerals for which auction takes place the contribution would be 10 per cent of royalty while in the case of directly leased minerals it would 30 per cent of royalty,” added Barnwal.
The Cabinet in another important decision solved the long pending demand of leaseholders in Khas Mahal areas, located primarily at Palamau, Hazaribagh etc. “There are 10,276 leaseholders in the State but due to excessive lease rent only 1,478 leases got renewed so far. Now the Government has revised the rate of rent. For residential purpose the leaseholder would have to pay Rs80,000 per acre if the market rate is Rs1 lakh. For commercial leaseholders the rate would be Rs2 lakh for every acre if the market rate is Rs1 lakh. The lease would be granted for 30 year and cess has been removed,” said the Secretary.
Providing further relief to the residents on Khas Mahal lands, the Cabinet approved the proposal to regularise the changed nature of the land and also the transfer cases after paying the differential amount. Bengal model has been taken into consideration for deciding the matter, the official added.
Similarly rate of the GM land leased out for industries has also be revised based on Odisha. “If price of GM land is
Rs1 lakh then for 30 years of lease the company needs to pay Rs1.52 lakh per acre. This formula would accelerate economic activities and is in conformity with economic situation of the State,” said Barnwal. However rate for perpetual transfers which is permanent in nature the rate would be unchanged.
The Cabinet also approved setting up the Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET) at Hehal of Ranchi at the cost of Rs51.32 crore. The institute would come up on 50:50 sharing between the Center and State Government wherein the 14.5 acre of land including building of Agriculture Training Center existing at the place would be provided for this.
“The amount of land and building would be adjusted in the total contribution of the State. The institute would train 600 students and to begin with provide diploma degree. This would also help in plastic industry to grow here,” added Barnwal.
The State would also get ‘Mati Kala Board’ for welfare and promotion of potters. Besides a chairperson and five Government officials the Board would rope in five non-Government members for three years tenure which can be extended for another term.