BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Saturday reiterated its demand for imposition of mineral resource rent tax on super normal profits earned by mine owners on iron ore extraction. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who had written twice to the Prime Minister on the issue, the last one on December 20, expressed his displeasure over the delay in taking a decision by the Central Government on his proposal.‘I am unable to understand why the Central Government has not taken a decision on my proposal, which will be in the larger interest of the community, particularly those residing in the mining areas, the Chief Minister said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday. The State is the owner of the mineral resources and the wealth generated on these finite resources should be used for the benefit of the community at large and not for enrichment of a few mining companies, the Patnaik said. ‘The proposal of the State Government will not hamper mining activities. Besides giving additional resources to the areas affected by mining, the tax will act as a deterrent to excess mining, Patnaik said.
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