The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) organised a convention on ‘Mining and Steel in Odisha: Ushering Next Era of Growth for Mineral-Based Industries’ here on Friday.
Inaugurating the convention, Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallik said the mining sector plays a vital role in the economic growth of any nation or State.
He informed that in March last year, the Parliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, which paved the way for States to auction iron ore and non-coal mineral mines.
“We are in the process of auctioning seven more mines. We would also solve the raw materials issues in the State,” said Mallik said.
He said Odisha is the first State to form a District Mineral Foundation (DMF), a body created to bring far-reaching changes in mining regulations. However, the new rules raised some concerns for the mining companies for their operational activities in the State, he added.
He also informed that Odisha accounts for 16 per cent of the nation’s cumulative mineral wealth and has emerged as a mineral and metal hub of the country and the world. Odisha alone has the country’s 98 per cent of chromite reserves, 93 per cent nickel reserve, 59 per cent bauxite reserve, 33.91 per cent iron ore and 24 per cent coal reserve.
Mallik also said there is an urgent need for simplification and timely approvals of mining projects from environment and forest angles.
Odisha is one of the major States both in terms of mining output and industrial production. Out of 3,318 reporting mines of India (FY 2015), 173 are located in Odisha, he added.
The State Government is making serious efforts for allocation of mineral resources through a transparent policy which would ensure maximum revenue generation to fund the development needs of the State, create job opportunities, promote use of modern technology and ensure optimal utilisation of resources, he said.
He also said, “We are in the process of auctioning seven more mines. We are serious in solving the raw materials problems.”
Steel and Mines Department Principal Secretary RK Sharma, NMDC limited and Co-Chair Director NK Nanda, Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys ltd senior Vice-President Sanjeev Das and Geology Department Director Artatrana Das also spoke, among others.