Odisha to auction 14 mining blocks in next 2 months

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to auction as many as 14 mining blocks in the next two months, informed an official on Thursday.

The government has started the process for auction of new mines in the state with the declining of Covid-19 cases.

A total of 14 iron ore, manganese and composite blocks of iron and manganese have been listed for auction in November last week or first week of December, the official said.

While 13 of these blocks are new blocks, one block is a working mine.

The nine iron ore and manganese blocks ready for auction include Purheibahal, Chandiposhi, Gandhalpada, Netrabandha Pahar (west), Dholtapahar, Jumka Pathriposhi, Kalimati, Unchabali and Kasia.

The steel and mines department has also decided to auction five other limestone and graphite mines.

The empowered committee chaired by development commissioner Suresh Mohapatra had recently met to discuss various aspects of the auction process.