Royalty for extracting laterite stones diminished, says MLA

The State authorities has diminished the royalty payable to the federal government by laterite stone extractors, used for setting up buildings, from ₹245 a tonne to ₹100 a tonne, stated Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai.

Mr. Rai stated in a video assertion that it (lowering royalty) was a major amongst three calls for of laterite stone extractors with the federal government.

Referring to the excessive worth of laterite stones, he stated that it prices a minimal of ₹60 a stone now. The stone suppliers (transporters) are answerable for the excessive worth. It isn’t as a consequence of diminished stone extraction actions within the district.

He stated that the federal government has prolonged the licence interval of extractors from six months to 1 12 months and never upto two years as demanded by them. The authorities didn’t contemplate extending the licence interval upto two years, which was the second demand of extractors, bearing in mind points associated to fencing the world extracted or filling up the extracted land.

The authorities issued a gazette notification on September 26, 2025, amending the Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1994.

Regarding the extension of licence interval, Karnataka Minor Mineral (Amended) Concession Rules, 2025 stated: “…Provided that, besides sub-clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), prior working permission shall be obtained from the jurisdictional Deputy Director or Senior Geologist, Department of Mines and Geology earlier than graduation of elimination and disposal of stated minor minerals and dealing permission interval shall be twelve months from the date of granting working permission and interval might additional be prolonged as much as twelve months by the jurisdictional Deputy Director or Senior Geologist for the explanations past the management of the working permission holder, because the case could also be…”

The sub-clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) pertained to digging of effectively for irrigation or ingesting water or rain water harvesting; digging of basis for constructing; and de-silting of ponds, tanks and development of latest tanks by Irrigation Department or different overnment Department, development of ponds for agriculture or fishery, development and upkeep of canals and drainage system as notified by the Irrigation Department or different authorities division. These actions are exempted from acquiring quarrying lease or licence.

Referring to the third demand, the MLA stated that the extractors had sought that they shouldn’t be made to get the no objection certificates from the Department of Agriculture to extract laterite stones within the farm land from greater than three meters depth. The authorities has agreed to their demand.

In the exempted (from acquiring quarrying lease or license) exercise, the Karnataka Minor Mineral (Amended) Concession Rules, 2025 stated: “…for improvement of patta or personal lands for betterment of agriculture by the landowner, topic to certification by the Agriculture Department to the impact and topic to the situation that such exercise shall not render the land much less match for cultivation than earlier than and likewise the mineral shall be eliminated in a fashion that doesn’t pose hazard to the neighbouring lands…”