Odisha Mineral Exploration Corporation Gets Cabinet Nod

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday approved setting up Odisha Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (OMECL) to undertake scientific mineral exploration.

The corporation will be a 100% subsidiary of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC).

It will undertake scientific mineral exploration to prove the ore bearing virgin area of the state to at least G2 level (general exploration) for facilitating the auction of mineral blocks, said Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi.

The OMECL has been set up under the Odisha Mineral Exploration Policy, 2015.

It may also take up sponsored exploration work from various mining leaseholders and other organizations, said Padhi.

A state-level empowered committee will be constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary to make recommendations to the state government on various matters relating to the OMECL.