Royalty from minor minerals to accrue to environment fund

The funds would be utilized for environmental conservation, restoration & regeneration activities

The Odisha government has decided to bring royalty collected from minor minerals under its environment management trust. Five per cent of the royalty of minor minerals would be collected as per provisions of the Odisha Minor Mineral Concession Rules.

The fund so mopped up would go to the environment management trust chaired by Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) R Balakrishnan. The Odisha Pollution Control Board has been urged to go for online consent to operate for mine quarries while keeping the offline mode open. The authority to issue consent to operate is also to be delegated to the regional officers of the pollution control board to ease the process.

The environment management trust constituted since 2006, is working for environment protection and development. The funds would be utilized for environmental conservation, restoration & regeneration activities like plantation both in rural and urban area, renovation of water bodies, creation of eco-parks and plantation of the bald hills.