Goa govt holds meeting to discuss miners' objections to taxes

Panaji, Feb 3: Amid demands by the mining industry to abolish several recently-introduced taxes, the Goa government today held a meeting to discuss the issue.

The Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA), a body representing the iron ore industry, has petitioned the state government to do away with the taxes stating that they were hampering the resumption of the industry. "Several demands of GMOEA were discussed.

It is for the finance department to take a call whether to recall the taxations imposed on the industry," a senior official said on the condition of anonymity.

The meeting was chaired by Dr Shrad Chawan, secretary of state Mines Department, who also holds the same position in the Finance portfolio. Director of Mines and Geology Department, Prasanna Acharya, was also present at the meeting.

Goa government had recently introduced several taxes, including processing fee of Rs 20 per ton, Rs one lakh per raising contract, Rs 10,000 for registration of barges, Rs 5,000 for registration of (mining) trucks besides commercial tax on the exports.

"The exporters had pointed out that they don't get input credit for exports of the ore due to commercial tax. They wanted government to revise the tax," the official added.

Based on the findings of the Justice M B Shah Commission report, which estimated a Rs 35,000 crore loss to the exchequer due to alleged illegal mining over 12 years, the Supreme Court had banned mining in all 90 mines in Goa from October 2012.

The apex court had lifted the ban in April 2014, but put an annual cap of 20 million tonnes on excavation. However, the mining operations could actually resume in August 2015, after various clearances, including environmental, were secured.

PTI