New Delhi: As many as 20 mining blocks have been identified by the Odisha Mines department for auctioning in 2018-19, a report from the Ministry of Mines (MoM) said.
According to the Mines ministry, the 20 blocks included three limestone, 11 iron ore, one iron ore & manganese, two bauxite and as many graphite, and another iron ore block.
Director of mines, Odisha, Deepak Kumar Mohanty has informed the central ministry that 19 blocks have been identified for auction in addition to the five blocks have already been auctioned and one bauxite block is with Geological Survey of India (GSI) for up-gradation to G2. However, as GSI is facing problems it is now being considered to auction the mineral block for Composite Licence (CL).
Mohanty further stated that exploration to various mines expiring in 2020 will be completed by December this year by the existing lease holders.
The Mines ministry is likely to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of state mines director to look into the post-auction issues.
“A committee under the state mines director may be constituted with Prithul Kumar, director, Ministry of Mines, and representatives of Karnataka and Jharkhand, to look into the post-auction issues related to transition from the old to the new lessee and prepare a draft guideline for the same,” said Anil Mukim Secretary of MoM.
It has also been stated that the leases of 31 mines will be expiring in 2020 in Odisha. Out of 31, 24 are working mines while seven are non-working.