Agrawal Demands Extension Of Chrome Ore Lease In Odisha Till March 2020

06 July, Bhubaneswar

Indian Chamber of Commerce, Odisha, Chairman V Agarwal today demanded the state government to extend the Chrome Ore mining leases up to March 31, 2020 as per the MMDR Act 2015.

In a memorandum to the Minister for Mines Prafulla Kumar Mallick, Mr Agarwal said the state government should give deemed extension to chrome ore mining where the mineral is used for other than the captive purpose as per the MMDR Act.

The mining lease be extended to increase chrome ore production and ensure availability of chrome ores for Ferro Chrome Plants at economically viable prices for survival of Ferro Chrome and stainless steel plants in the state, he said.

Agarwal said the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) should increase the production of chrome ores and chrome concentrate from the existing operating and non-operating chrome ore mines.

He also demanded the auction of chrome ore and Manganese ore for end use by Ferro Chrome and Manganese Alloy plants to ensure level playing field in Ferro Alloy industry.

Agarwal demanded for a long term agreement with OMC and other private lessees for supply of chrome ore and concentrates to Ferro chrome plants at economically viable price.

Reduction in charges for the transportation of chrome from mining belt to plant and a quick government notification of the transport rates was his other demand.

The Minister said the government was looking into the demands and would see what could be done