Editor’s Note
This article details a 10% increase in annual lease rents for sandstone quarry licenses in Rajasthan’s Bijolia region, effective July 1st. The hike, implemented per state mining rules, will raise operational costs for local mining businesses.
The Department of Mines has increased the annual lease rent for sandstone quarry licenses in the mineral-rich Bijolia region by 10 percent. This order came into effect from July 1st. Mining businesses will now have to pay higher rent compared to the old rates. Mining Engineer, Bijolia, Praveen Kumar Agrawal explained that the amendment has been made based on the recommendation of a committee constituted under Rule 24 of the Rajasthan Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2017. The rent rates have been increased across all categories including plot, block, and partnership quarry licenses.
Agrawal stated that the 10 percent increase in rent will also apply to partnership land where the sanctioned area is more than 4 hectares. Additionally, the rent for gaps, faults, and access roads has been increased proportionally. The increased rates will impose an additional financial burden on mining businesses.
There are approximately 650 quarry licenses and plants in the region. The sandstone from the Bijolia area is famous nationwide for construction work and decorative stones. Sandstone from here is supplied to other states including Rajasthan. It is mandatory for Quarry License (QL) holders to deposit the annual lease rent.