Bhubaneswar | Jan 16, 2016:

SUMMARY: On January 5, notification issued for auction of two more limestone blocks - Garramura limestone block in Nuapada and Khatkurbahal limestone block in Sundargarh. The state government is emphasizing on exploration of these areas so that more blocks can be auctioned, said an officer.Till date, total explored mines account for 7% of the gross state domestic product (GSDP). The vast reserves of minerals have substantial scope for enhancing contribution to the GSDP.Around a year after implementation of the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 2015, Odisha is yet to complete auction process of a single block.On December 23 last year, the state government issued notification for auction of one iron ore block (Ghoraburahani-Sagasahi East iron ore block). BHUBANESWAR: As the Centre recently asked the state government to expedite mining auction process, the state government on Friday decided to set up a dedicate wing namely Odisha Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (OMECL) to speed up the process in the state.The agency will be created on the lines of the Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited, a dedicated agency under the Union ministry of mines, official sources said.The agency will work to get statutory clearances for exploration of mines in forest areas. The OMECL will also help exploration of new areas by conducting differential global positioning system survey, said steel and mines secretary R K Sharma emerging from a meeting headed by chief secretary A P Padhi here.Sources in the steel and mines department said the state has around 700 sq km of virgin and free-hold areas which bear minerals like asbestos, bauxite, china clay, cobalt, chromites, fireclay, graphite, limestone, manganese, mineral sand, nickel, platinum group materials, tin ore and vanadium apart from coal and iron ore.

As the Centre recently asked the state government to expedite mining auction process, the state government on Friday decided to set up a dedicate wing namely Odisha Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (OMECL) to speed up the process in the state.

The agency will be created on the lines of the Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited, a dedicated agency under the Union ministry of mines, official sources said. The agency will work to get statutory clearances for exploration of mines in forest areas. The OMECL will also help exploration of new areas by conducting differential global positioning system survey, said steel and mines secretary R K Sharma emerging from a meeting headed by chief secretary A P Padhi here.

Sources in the steel and mines department said the state has around 700 sq km of virgin and free-hold areas which bear minerals like asbestos, bauxite, china clay, cobalt, chromites, fireclay, graphite, limestone, manganese, mineral sand, nickel, platinum group materials, tin ore and vanadium apart from coal and iron ore. The state government is emphasizing on exploration of these areas so that more blocks can be auctioned, said an officer.

Till date, total explored mines account for 7% of the gross state domestic product (GSDP). The vast reserves of minerals have substantial scope for enhancing contribution to the GSDP.

Around a year after implementation of the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 2015, Odisha is yet to complete auction process of a single block.

On December 23 last year, the state government issued notification for auction of one iron ore block (Ghoraburahani-Sagasahi East iron ore block). On January 5, notification issued for auction of two more limestone blocks - Garramura limestone block in Nuapada and Khatkurbahal limestone block in Sundargarh.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)