The BJP on Wednesday demanded sale of an estimated 16.5 million tonnes of iron ore worth an estimated `10,000 crore left unsold because of the Covid-19 situation. Addressing a Press conference here, Keonjhar MLA and BJP Legislature Party Chief Whip Mohan Majhi stated that to strengthen the State’s economy and provide employment to local youths, the State Government must sell the unsold iron ore. Majhi said a group of BJP legislators have written a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Coal and Mining Minister Prahllad Joshi and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Minister to intervene in this issue.
He said that before Covid-19, it was estimated that there were 58,000 MT of iron ore, out of which 16.5 MT is now unsold.
According to the MMDR Act, the unsold ore could be stored up to seven months. Of the 16.5 MT of iron ore, 8.5 MT is lying at Nuagaon in Keonjhar district.
Majhi alleged that because of lack of imitative of the State Government, Odisha is going to lose revenue of `10,000 crore. He further stated that despite a High Court ruling that the Mines Principal Secretary would take a call on the issue, he has decided that there would no extension in mine leasing.
Reacting to the statement of Majhi, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said Majhi’s allegation is based on political consideration, baseless and without facts.
Mohanty said Odisha is the only State where mine leasing is conducted in a fair and transparent manner, which the Union Government has praised.“If Majhi thinks of any unfair work on the State Government’s part, he can ask the Central Government to find out the truth,” Mohanty added.