The Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) has the potential to be transformed to a world class organisation, opined a World Bank team in a high level meeting here on Monday, chaired by Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra.
As per earlier decisions of the Government, the World Bank conducted a scoping study on mining sector in the State before making the observation. The five-member team led by World Bank State programme coordinator Vikram Menon agreed to provide non-lending technical assistance and world class expertise to the OMC for accomplishing the goal.
Chief Secretary Mohapatra advised the Directorate of Mining, Directorate of Geology and the OMC to augment their internal capacity for better regulation, enforcement and professional management.
Mohapatra advised the OMC to treat its fund as a social wellbeing fund and utilise it for long term and sustainable development in the sector.
The meeting deliberated upon issues like developing structured reform initiatives in mining sector to make it sustainable and maximize revenue generation from the sector. leveraging mining wealth as a driver for inclusive growth of local community, adoption of green technology for sustainable economic growth and infrastructural development of State also figured in the meeting.
It was agreed upon that DGPS mining map will be integrated with revenue map. Besides, regulatory and corporate strengthening initiatives will be taken up in the departments and corporations dealing with mining sector. Development Commissioner Injeti Srinivas, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) UN Behera, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Taradatt, Steel and Mines Secretary G Srinivas, OMC MD Saswat Mishra , Director Mines along with other senior officers participated in the meeting.