Panaji:
The Goa government has collected Rs 186 crore as fees for converting land occupied by rejected mining ore, from agricultural to non-agricultural purposes, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Friday.
Parrikar told reporters here that an additional Rs 100 crore would be collected from mining lease holders who would have to convert their land to non-agricultural purpose, since iron ore has been stacked on it.
The state government had recently announced a policy, charging conversion fees on lands occupied by mining rejects.
Parrikar said that Rs 126.64 crore has been collected from North Goa and Rs 60.4 crore from South Goa. The money was paid by mining lease owners, who had toconvert land to non-agricultural purpose by October 3.
The chief minister said that the Goa government hasextended the time to convert lands to non-agricultural purpose to November 3.
During this period, an additional Rs 100 crore would be added to the state coffers. Parrikar said that unclaimed iron orde dumps remaining unclaimed during land conversion would be taken over by the Goa state government and auctioned.
