Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 20
The jurisdiction tussle between the Department of Geology and Mining (DG&M) and the Department of Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (DEF&CC) over the implementation of the Nagaland Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2004 (NMMCR 2004) has been resolved in a joint meeting of the two departments, an official informed today.
The Director of DG&M, Wanthang Rengma in a press statement maintained that the joint meeting, chaired by the Chief Minister TR Zeliang on October 28, gave a clear-cut decision in favor of the department after a thorough deliberation on the issue.
The issue of jurisdiction came to light after the Sand Stockist and Suppliers’ Union Dimapur, in September, questioned the taxation by both the departments resulting in double taxation. Thereafter, both the departments had claimed jurisdiction over the taxation leading to confusion.
According to the press statement, at the joint meeting, it was decided that as per Rules of Executive Business of the Government, the DG&M has been entrusted as the administrative authority for management of the mineral concession and development in the state.
The mineral listed in the First Schedule of Nagaland (Ownership and Transfer of Land and its Resources), Act 1990 (NOTLAR Act) and the schedule –I of NMMCR 2004, including sand, gravel, and boulders fall under the prerogative of the DG&M as published in Nagaland Gazette dated March 1, 2005 and operationalised on January 24, 2017, it said.
The act stated that the department will continue to implement NMMCR 2004 by granting licence or permit, levy royalty, monitor and regulate mines or quarries, it added.
Consequently, in pursuance of the above decision, the DEF&CC will take immediate step for the amendment of the Nagaland Forest Act 1968 and delete “wherever minerals, rocks (including limestone, laterite, minerals oils and all produce of mines and quarries) are listed forest produce,” the statement said.
The meeting also decided that the proposed amendment should be laid down before the Nagaland Legislative Assembly during the upcoming Winter Session 2017.
Meanwhile, in accordance with the decisions taken at the joint meeting, the DG&M stated that the department will continue to “regulate, control, and monitor all minerals including coal, petroleum and natural gas in the state and will continue granting mining permit, levy tax/loyalty on all minerals within the state.”
“Any other agency collection royalty on minerals will be treated illegal and will attract action as per the provision of the law,” it added.
