State sets mineral royalty targets for distts banking on improving situation By Kartik Lokhande : Nagpur gets the target of Rs 209.78 crore second-highest in the State Revenue and Forest Department of State Government has set targets for mineral royalty collection for various districts for the year 2021-22. The target for 11 districts of Vidarbha region has been set at Rs 1055.15 crore which is 28.52 per cent of total target of Rs 3700 crore for the entire State. As far as Nagpur district is concerned the target has been increased slightly as compared to the previous financial year. The target has been increased for some other districts too in the State. According to sources the target has been increased considering the improvement in COVID-19 pandemic situation and likelihood of economic activities picking up soon. In the State Pune district has got the highest target of Rs 250.28 crore followed by Nagpur with target of Rs 209.78 crore. In Vidarbha region five out of 11 districts have been given target above Rs 100 crore. These include: Nagpur -- Rs 209.78 crore Amravati -- Rs 115.28 crore Bhandara -- Rs 110.93 crore Chandrapur -- Rs 109.28 crore and Yavatmal -- Rs 104.78 crore. Gajanan Kamde District Mining Officer Nagpur told The Hitavada that the department was hopeful of meeting the target. “Last year the target of mineral royalty collection was Rs 207 crore and we posted recovery of Rs 183 crore. This time only a marginal increase has been effected and target is set at Rs 209.78 crore. This has been done keeping in mind improving COVID-19 situation and increase in royalty rates. Last year auction of sand ghats was conducted in March-April. This year we are planning to hold auctions of available ghats in November-December. All these factors will help us meet the royalty target” Kamde said. However the contractors feel that the situation in market has not improved. Whatever the demand is there for minerals is because of works floated by the Central and State Government. Altaf Ahmed President Vidarbha Quarry Owners Welfare Association said “There is no demand in market as such. The only demand for minerals is in Government works like cement roads flyover etc. The increased target must have been given only on the expectation of mineral use in Government works and not on the basis of market demand.” If royalty evasion is reduced he remarked target can be achieved or even exceeded. As far as increase in mineral royalty rates is concerned Altaf Ahmed and various legislators and associations across the State have submitted memorandums seeking stay to hike. However the State has not stayed it so far.

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