Meghalaya to levy 10 % on minor minerals for Meghalaya Minor Mineral Reclamation Fund

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 22, 2024

In compliance to the High Court of Meghalaya (HCM)’s ruling, the Meghalaya Government has decided to start realisation 10 percent on minor minerals used for construction as per the latest Schedule of Rates of the PWD for contribution towards the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Reclamation Fund (MMMRF).

This was informed by Commissioner & Secretary of Meghalaya, Forest & Environment Department in an office memorandum issued on Friday.

The office memorandum said that the High Court of Meghalaya dated 30.06.2015 in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 140 of 2014 in the matter of Tangkham M Sangma Vrs State of Meghalaya & Ors and the order of the High Court dated 16.11.2015 in Review Petition No. 10/2015, and in order to reclaim the damage caused to the forest and the environment as a result of mining activities, a fund for the aforesaid reclamation has been created by the State Government titled, “Meghalaya Minor Mineral Reclamation Fund (MMMRF).

“As directed by the High Court, a sum to the extent of not less than ten percent of the sale proceeds of the minerals extracted under the license or lease deed as provided in the judgement of the Supreme Court in Goa Foundation’s case and being in accordance with the principle that a “polluter shall pay” shall be deposited by the exporter/miner of the minor minerals in the aforesaid Meghalaya Minor Mineral Reclamation Fund (MMMRF),” the office memorandum said.

The Government directed all the user agencies and Departments to ensure that from the bills of the contractors engaged by them for construction purpose who are using minor minerals from the mines/quarry, Meghalaya Minor Mineral Reclamation Fund (MMMRF) shall be realised at the rate of 10% of the rate of minor mineral as per the latest Schedule of Rates of the PWD and deposited in the Bank A/c relating to Meghalaya Minor Mineral Reclamation Fund (MMMRF) bearing A/c No. 0158104000053923 (IFSC Code IBKL0000158 IDBI Bank, Shillong Branch), under intimation to DFO (T), Shillong or DFO (T), Jowai, or DFO (T), Tura, or DFO (T), Williamnagar, or DFO (SF & T), Nongstoin and DFO (SF & T), Baghmara as the case may be, depending on the area/jurisdiction where realization of Meghalaya Minor Mineral Reclamation Fund (MMMRF) takes place.