SHILLONG: The State Cabinet on Thursday approved hike in export fees of limestone, boulders and other minor minerals and other forest produce aimed at raising revenue collection from Rs six crore to Rs to Rs 12 crore per year.
“The cabinet has approved the proposal to raise export fees of minor minerals and forest produce of the state,” Forest and Environment minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
The rates have not bee revised since 1999 and Government felt it necessary to revise the rates, he said.
The Cabinet approved to raise the export fees from Rs 300 to Rs 1000 per truck on minor minerals such as lime stone, boulders and sand while export fees of timber such round timber, cane and dhoop will be raised from Rs 500, Rs 300 and Rs 300 respectively to Rs 5000 per truck.
The export rate for sawn timber and firewood have also been raised from Rs 200 to Rs 2000 while bamboo and broom stick have been raised from Rs 100 to Rs 1000 and Rs 60 to Rs 500 respectively, Tynsong said.