Title: Need to revise the royalty rates due to the state of Orissa for the minerals extracted from the state, as per the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission.
SHRI ARJUN SETHI (BHADRAK): Mr. Speaker, Sir, you will be surprised to know that no revision of royalty on minerals has been done for the last 9 to 10 years. The Sarkaria Commission had recommended that revision of royalty on minerals should be done after every two years. Similarly, the Inter-State Council also recommended that revision of royalty on minerals should be done every three years. But it is a matter of regret that this has not been done for the last 9 to 10 years.
Sir, the State of Orissa earns 60 per cent of its revenue from minerals. As a result of non-revision of royalty on minerals other than coal, the State Government is losing very much. So, I urge upon the Government of India that they should issue a direction to get this revision done at the earliest so that not only the State of Orissa, but also other States which are having minerals do not lose any further.
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Dushyant Singh. We should learn from this young Member. Today, being World TB Day, he has brought before us a great responsibility and he has put this matter before this House. I compliment him and we should learn from him.