Shillong, Jan 23: The state Cabinet has approved a proposal to amend the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016 to ensure that ‘incidental’ extraction of minerals is subjected to realization of royalty.
Chief minister Mukul Sangma told reporters that existing rules 3 (2), talked about any extraction of minor minerals which is incidental in nature.
However the word ‘incidental in nature’ has not been defined properly.
He said that in proposed amendment, incidental in the context of extraction of minor mineral means unintended extraction which arises out of non-mining activity such as construction of roads or major infrastructural projects.
According to him, this definition will enable the enforcing agency to appropriately regulate and realize revenue.
The cabinet approved another proposal to amend the Meghalaya Society Registration Act by increasing the registration fees to Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 for renewal.
Sangma said the last revision was done in 1990 and the exercise was part of mopping up resources from all sources. Earlier, the registration fee was fixed at Rs 250.
The state cabinet also approved amendment of the Meghalaya Registration of Birth and Death Rules, 1999, for inclusion of transgender option against sex column in birth or death certificates.
The chief minister said the decision was based on a circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to all state governments following an order passed by the Supreme Court on April 15, 2014.
“In line with this, three options (in the sex column) including male, female and transgender will be made available for individuals to indicate their gender,†he said.
