Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallik on Wednesday held discussions with different stakeholders of the mining and metal sector in a virtual programme organised by the Department of Steel and Mines and the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
The 'National Metal and Mining e-Summit 2021 ' saw deliberations from different experts and players from the sector. The Minister claimed that despite the Covid pandemic, the initiatives taken by the Government ensured maintaining the pace of work in the sector. “The sector witnessed a minor effect during the initial phases of Covid-19, but the Government’s initiatives helped keep the sector on track. We were able to conduct the auctions of mines during the period. Meanwhile at the Central level the MMDR Act saw some amendments which also made the works in the sector more conductive and user-friendly,” the Minister said.
State Mines Director Debidutta Biswal said, “Odisha was one of the few States in India which had the online mineral monitoring system.
We also issued e-passes during the pandemic to ensure hassle free movement and business of the sector. Granting of many online licences to the sector also reduced human interface. Out of the 24 auctioned mines, production also started at 19 of these.”