Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the state has the potential to emerge as a Global Hub in steel, aluminum and other mining industries.
Mr.Patnaik was speaking after inaugurating two iron ore mines at Guali and Jilling Langlota in Keonjhar district along with Union Minister of Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi in virtual mode.
Chief Minister Secretary V K Pandian moderated the Meeting.
These two mines were allocated to the state owned Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC).
CM said he is hopeful that the quick operationalization of OMCs mines would help stabilize the iron ore market and meet the supply demand of the industry.
The two new mines will produce 12 million tons of iron ores per annum and the annual production of OMC will reach 20 million tons per annum, he said.
While environmental clearance has been obtained for production of 6.28 million tons of iron ore from Jiling mines against its reserve of 79.12 MT, as much as 5.7 million tons of iron ore will be mined from Guali where 194.12 MT of iron ore is estimated to be reserved, official sources said.
Mr.Patnaik said that Odisha has always taken early initiatives especially in the mining sector and supported reforms.
Odisha Government has rolled out helpdesk and feedback system under 5T initiative for ease of doing business in operation of i3MS Application and auction process of many major mines have been done with greater success in past few years.
The Chief Minister said the Centre and the State Governments need to work together to make Odisha’s huge potential in mining and mineral sectors. “Even as industry-friendly measures in the state have encouraged investments, both State and the Center should work together to realize the huge potential of the state in the mining and metals industries sector,” said Mr.Patnaik.
He thanked Joshi for allocating Guali and Jilling Langlota iron ore mines to the OMC.
Union Mines Minister Prahlad Joshi said that Orissa was rich in mineral resources. The economy of both the state and country will grow if the work is done with coordination.
Mr.Joshi said the state will receive Rs 4,000-Rs 5,000 crore revenue annually from these two mines and create employment opportunities. This apart, the two mines are expected to meet the requirement in the iron ore market.
The coordination between the state and Centre will lay the foundation for the beginning of a new era in economic growth of the country, a statement released by the Chief Minister’s Office said quoting Joshi.
Minister Steel and Mines, Steel and Public Works Prafulla Mallick, who was present at the inauguration ceremony, thanked the Chief Minister and the Union Minister Joshi for their co-operation with the Center and the State for starting production in Guali and Jilling Langlota mines.
Rajya Sabha MP Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Development Commissioner Pradeep Jena, Principal Secretary Finance Ashok Kumar Meena, Secretary Steel and Mines and Chairman OMC Surendra Kumar and MD, OMC Balwant Singh were among others who graced the occasion.