The State Government should stop export of mineral resources. It should not give mining leases to private companies and should sell the minerals itself. Five more corporations should be set up like the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), demanded trade union leader Mayadhar Nayak at a Press conference here on Sunday.
Nayak said, “23 countries are purchasing our minerals. As we are not able to set up advanced factories, we are exporting chromite at dirt cheap prices. Any country exporting mineral resources is unfortunate.”
The Government should stop export of minerals and set up value-added minerals-based industries in the State and the country, he said.
Presently, due to restrictions by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, seventy mines, including Kaliapani, Baula, Banguru and Kathapala chromite mines, and iron mines in Badbil, Joda, Gandhamardhan, Koida, Khandadhar and Angul district are closed. The Government and the OMC should immediately reopen the mines and take proactive steps to expedite recruitment of labourers.
Due to the closure of mines, hundreds of mine workers and their families are in a state of distress, he said.