To impose indefinite bandh if govt. fails to clarify
[caption id="attachment_186700" align="alignnone" width="550"]
Trucks carrying sands seen stranded near Dillai gate on Friday. (EM Images)[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, June 1 (EMN): The Sand Stockists & Supplies Union of Dimapur (SSSUD) has declared that it shall impose an indefinite 'bandh' on sand trucks entering Nagaland should the state's government fail to clarify which department had been authorised to collect tax on sand-laden vehicles.
The threat, on Fri. June 1, comes a day after the SSSUD stated that it would stop paying tax to the department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (EF&CC) and the Geology & Mining department as of June 1 until the government takes a final decision on said matter.
Addressing media persons at Delai gate in Dimapur, the SSSUD's Secretary Nito Sumi maintained that the union was not in support of any particular department but that it was seeking clarification from the government as to which department the transporters are to pay tax.
Around 70-80 trucks were stranded at Delai gate on Friday. Sumi maintained that the department of EF&CC which collects INR 300 as tax was not allowing trucks to enter from Delai gate without paying tax. The department was not available for any comment.
On the other hand, an official from the Geology & Mining dept. said, "As per Nagaland rules of Executive Business 2016, the department of Geology and Mining has been authorised as administrative authority for management of mineral concession and development of minerals in the state. The state of Nagaland is enjoying the special provisions under Article 371 (A)."
"Accordingly, the state of Nagaland has enacted the Nagaland (ownership and transfer of land and its resources) Act 1990 and under Section 17 of the aforesaid Act, the Nagaland Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2004 was framed. The department of Geology and Mining is granting mining lease and quarry permit and levying royalty under the aforesaid Act and Rules."
The official said further that the dispute between Forest and Mining was resolved during a joint meeting on Oct. 28 2017. Accordingly, an administrative order was issued with the approval of the chief minister on April 2 2018. Geology and Mining is collecting royalty according to rates prescribed by schedule-1 of the NMMCR 2004 'against issue of money receipt.'
"We don’t know what Forest department is doing. Because it’s a universal truth that mineral is mining produce and not forest produce," the official asserted.
The dept. also provided a copy of the govt. notification, which was dated April 2 2018. It states: "in exercise of the powers conferred under rules 43, 4, 19, 23, 33, 39, 67, 75 etc, of the Nagaland Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2004 (NMMCR 2004) and pursuant to the decision of the joint meeting minutes dated 28th October 2017 of the departments of Geology & Mining and EF&CC and as per the Rules of Executive Business, 2016, the department of Geology & Mining has been authorised to implement the NMMCR 2004 by granting mining lease / license, quarry permits and levy royalty on minor minerals as listed in schedule-II of the NMMCR 2004 throughout the State and will monitor and regulate mines, quarries in the State. In view of the above stated statutory provisions, the Department of Geology & Mining is authorised to grant mining lease/license, quarry permits and levy taxes/royalty on minor minerals such as sand, gravels, boulders, stone chips, bricks, clay, sandstone etc. Henceforth, the Environment, Forest & Climate Change (EF&CC) or any other department or agency will not issue any license/permit nor levy taxes/royalty either on minor or major minerals. Whatever permit/license issued for minor minerals by the EF&CC department or by any other agencies shall stand cancelled with immediate effect."
The official from Geology and Mining maintained that the dept. was collecting INR 300 per trip/truck which was the approved rate. INR 15 is the rate/tonne. An average truck carries 20 tonne.
