Odisha Govt Identifies 16 Mineral Blocks For Auction
23 July, Bhubaneswar
Odisha Government has identified 16 mineral blocks for auction, as per the Mines and Mineral Development Regulation Act, 2015.
Union Secretary for Mines Balwinder Kumar, who was here today to review the preparedness for the auction of mines, told newspersons after a meeting with state Chief Secretary G C Pati that the process for the auction would start by the end of October next.
As many as 10 blocks were explored under G-2 level and six blocks were explored under G-3 level, as per the provisions of the Mineral Auction Rules,2015 notified by the Union Mines Ministry for grant of mining lease through auction.
The 10 blocks explored under G-2 level and identified for auction included six iron ore, two lime stone and as many manganese mines. Similarly, the six blocks explored under G-3 level and identified for auction included three Manganese and three iron ore blocks.
The 16 blocks including Khandadhar identified for auction were located in Malkangiri, Sundergarh, Keonjhar, Nuapada and Bolangir districts.
Kumar said he had requested the Odisha government to constitute the District Mineral Foundation Fund (DMFF) soon so that funds could be transferred to the foundation.
He said some of the districts would get around Rs 200 to Rs 400 crore. The fund would be utilised for capacity building of mineral bearing districts and socio-economic development of the people engaged in mining activities.
Odisha Chief Secretary G C Pati said rules for the constitution of District Mineral Foundation Fund has been approved by the state government and it will be notified after it was cleared by the law department.
The Union Secretary said the Central government had also provided Rs 869 crore to the Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation for initiating steps for the development of tribals residing in mineral bearing districts. Guidelines for the fund had already been prepared and it was undergoing revision.
Pati said the notification for the auction of mines would be made soon.
He said DGPS survey of 16 mining blocks was under way and it would be completed by the end of September next and hoped that the auction would start by the end of October next.
The state government has constituted a high level committee under the Chairmanship of Development Commissioner to prepare the prepatory work relating to auction of major mineral, conduct of DGPS survey and preparation of tender