The Orissa Government has amended the duty structure to increase revenue from mining lease stamp duty.
As per the new norms, the state government has prescribed that while calculating royalty on the amount of minerals excavated, the figure showed in the mining plan should be considered as the basis, and not the anticipated amount suggested by local mining officer as per previous practice. In case of a modification of mining plan, the stamp duty should be reassessed on the differential production level and the lessee should deposit the additional stamp duty before the production enhancement is carried out. Earlier, the stamp duty charges for a mining lease included preliminary expenses, security deposits, surface rent along with highest amount of dead rent or royalty charged on the mineral excavation amount.