Odisha To Auction 7 Mines By August

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha government would auction seven more mines including one bauxite mines by August this year, said Steel and Mines minister Prafulla Mallick on Tuesday.

He said seven mines including iron ore, manganese and one bauxite mines of Koraput district would be auctioned by July-August this year.

As mining ministers meeting on key issues pertaining to mining sector will be held at Jaipur, Rajasthan on May 27, Mallick said the government would raise simplification of the auction process and expedite granting of environment clearance to mines in the state.

According to the agenda, the mines ministers will discuss on the auction process, setting up of District Mineral Foundation (DMF), minor mineral rules and curbing illegal mining and enhanced penal provisions.

Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha have put up 6 major mineral blocks on e-auction. The mineral blocks need to be prepared for putting them up on mineral auctions by every State Government. The identification of major mineral blocks and their auction preparedness will be discussed in the meeting, said the agenda.

The progress in setting up DMF by the states viz. promulgation of DMF rules and constitution of DMF at district level had to be done in line with the directions issued by the Central Government. The status of the collection of the money accrued in the DMF funds by the State Government and its utilisation would also be discussed, it added.

Besides, the DMF constitution for minor minerals by the State Government will also be discussed.