Union Steel and Mines and labour and Employment Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday said the Union Government would cooperate with the Odisha Government to revive mining operations, steel production and labour welfare activities.
Tomar who arrived here on a two-day tour of the State, met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat and discussed issues relating to the problems in revival of the mining sector, payment of arrear amounts towards mining royalty due from 2012, forest and environment clearances pending with the Centre on the mining and steel sectors, imposition of mineral rent tax, expediting the process of taking over of the Neelachal Ispat Nigam by the SAIl, etc.
After a one-and-a-half hour meeting with Patnaik, Tomar said the Union Government has a positive view on setting up of the Posco steel project, but he refused to say anything about clearing a lease of the Khandhar Mines for this project. The meeting was attended by State Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kuamr Mallick, Chief Secretary GC Pati, Union Steel and Mines Secretary Anup Kumar Pujari.
The Chief Minister requested Tomar to allow mining activities by the Odisha Mining Corporation to help increase mineral exploration by giving forest and environment clearances. The State Government would also expedite clearances of pending mining lease proposals, he said.