BALLARI(Karnataka) | Jun 18, 2015: The Department of Forests has served notice to 49 mining companies in Ballari district for the recovery of Rs. 794.14 crore of Forest Development Tax (FDT).
A week ago, it served notice to 14 mining companies operating in the district to recover the FDT of Rs. 159.03 crore.
Associated Mining Company, owned by mining baron G. Janardhan Reddy; S.B. Minerals, in which Vijayanagar MLA B.S. Anand Singh is a partner; V.S. Lad and Sons, in which MLAs Anil and Santosh Lad are the directors, and State-owned Mysore Minerals Ltd. are among the 49 mining companies, falling under category ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ based on the extent of alleged irregularities, which have been issued notice.
Introduced in 2008
According to official sources, though the payment of the FDT by the mining lessees for sale of iron ore was introduced in 2008, it was hardly abided. Later, mining activities came to a standstill from July 2011 following a blanket ban by the Supreme Court, while hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by the Samaj Parivartana Samudaya. During the post-mining ban period, the FDT was deducted from the sale proceeds of iron ore through e-auction.
Meanwhile, the response to the notice served earlier to these companies has been lukewarm. As such the FDT of 6 per cent and the interest there upon, touched Rs. 953.18 crore.
FDT of Rs. 794.14 cr. due to the Department of Forests
(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)
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