The High Court has banned the recovery of TP (Transit Pass Charge) on mineral powder prepared from mineral stone in factories. A petition was filed by Arvind Vyas of Udaipur due to which the order was established. The court has also issued notices to the Principal Secretary of Mining, Director, Additional Director and mining engineer of Rajsamand and Amet. All of these have to submit their answers in four weeks. However, the matter is entangled between the Department of Mines and Industries. 

The Mining Department imposed an annual charge of Rs.25,000 on powder made from minerals stones and a  separate fee of Rs.10 per truck was also imposed. On the other hand, Rajasthan Minerals Processors Association said that mineral stone powder is manufactured through factories. According to which these come under the Industries Department. Additional Chief Secretary Mines Subodh Agarwal also did not consider this industry under the mining department. 

There are around 8 thousand factories of mineral powder in Rajasthan and 400 such industries in Udaipur. The Transit Pass the Mineral Department is collecting for each industry is Rs.25 per and Rs. 20 crore annually in the state and Rs. 1 crore in Udaipur. According to the reports, Rs.10,000 is being charged daily for 1,000 trucks transporting mineral powder in Udaipur which is Rs.10 per truck. A charge of Rs. 2.50 lakh per day is being taken from 25, 000 trucks in the entire state. 

Association President Gopal Aggarwal said that the rule of Transit Pass charge has been forcibly imposed upon them. The reason they are giving is to curb illegal mining but mineral powder has nothing to do with it, he says. 

There is no Transit Pass Charge on marble blocks, granite stone, kota stone and sand stone etc. which come under the same category. In such a situation, other people associated with these industries are also preparing to go to court. On the other hand, AK Gaur, Additional Director of the Mining Department, says that the stay has been granted to a petitioner. The rule is applicable from 2022 and we are following it. 

Source: Dainik Bhaskar