Mineral rich states seek PM's intervention on royalty issue

They suggested that the royalty be fixed on 20 to 25 per cent of the sale price as was done for crude oil in 2004.

Mineral rich states — Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh — have sought prime minister's intervention in fixing royalty of minerals on ad valorem basis and continuing their special powers to allocate mines to prospective investors.

In a joint representation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the chief ministers of these three states alongwith the Mines Minister of Rajasthan stressed on increasing the royalty on minerals particularly iron ore and coal by fixing it on an ad valorem basis.

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They suggested that the royalty be fixed on 20 to 25 per cent of the sale price as was done for crude oil in 2004.

The states impressed upon the need to extend support to the ongoing industrialisation in the mineral bearing regions for creating employment opportunities and increasing revenue generation.

They urged the prime minister that the special powers granted to them should be continued so as to enable them to attract investors in these states.

The chief ministers advocated a freeze on the current level of iron ore exports and emphasised that a mechanism be worked out to reduce their exports to ensure availability of ore to domestic steel producers at competitive prices.