Mines Department’s Outstanding Interest Waiver Amnesty Scheme to be Implemented and Monitored by Zonal Additional Directors – Principal Secretary, Mines

Departmental Amnesty Scheme to be implemented until March 31, 2025 – Maximum 90% waiver on outstanding principal amount – Participation of mining leaseholders’ organizations’ officials also ensured

Jaipur : The responsibility for the effective implementation and regular monitoring of the Mines Department’s Outstanding Interest Waiver Amnesty Scheme has been assigned to the Additional Directors of the Mines Department at the zonal level, who will serve as nodal officers. The Principal Secretary of the Mines and Petroleum Department, Mr. T. Ravikant, stated that a committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Zonal Additional Director of Mines. The committee includes all the Supervisory Mining Engineers of the zone, all the Mining Engineers and Assistant Mining Engineers of the zone, as well as representatives from the organizations of mining leaseholders. A notable aspect of this is that officials from the mining leaseholders’ organizations have also been included as participants.

The Principal Secretary mentioned that workshops would be organized to provide detailed information on the effective implementation of the Amnesty Scheme and its provisions. Additionally, personal coordination will be established with the concerned defaulters to ensure the recovery of outstanding revenue.

It is noteworthy that the Chief Minister and Mining Minister, Mr. Bhajan Lal Sharma, emphasized the need to implement the departmental Amnesty Scheme, stating that this scheme would facilitate the recovery of outstanding revenue for the state government. Furthermore, the time and money saved from unnecessary efforts in recovery will allow the workforce engaged in recovery tasks to be used for productive activities.

Mr. Ravikant explained that the Mines Department’s Amnesty Scheme has been applied to cases of outstanding dues for mining leases for non-major minerals, quarry licenses, temporary permissions for gravel, stable royalties/rent, surcharge, penalty, RCC, ERCC contracts, permits, STPs, and dues of contractors in the construction department, as well as other departmental dues up to March 31, 2023. The departmental Amnesty Scheme will remain effective until March 31, 2025. The Amnesty Scheme provides a waiver on interest, along with relief of up to a maximum of 90% on the principal amount, depending on the outstanding period, in different slabs. According to the provisions of the scheme, the benefits of the scheme will be available only if the specified amount is deposited within the scheme’s period.

Director of Mines, Mr. Bhagwati Prasad Kalal, mentioned that an estimated 2900 cases are expected to be part of the Amnesty Scheme. He added that by appointing the Zonal Additional Director of Mines as the nodal officer at the zonal level, the scheme’s implementation and effective monitoring will be possible.