Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 15: In a bid to streamline mining exploration in the state, the proposed Orissa Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (OMECL) is likely to begin operations within a month. This has been decided at an inter-departmental coordination meeting held in the city under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi.
“Details of modalities and functioning of the new corporation have been discussed in the meeting. The corporation will operate under the guidelines of Orissa Mineral Exploration Policy-2015. The suggestions of the committee will soon be forwarded to the state government for consideration”, steel and mines secretary, RK Sharma said.
Chief Secretary advised that since the proposed corporation would principally be a promotional agency, some revenue earning provisions should be incorporated from inception stage. Accordingly, it was decided that the new entity could provide services relating to scientific exploration to other states and agencies on payment basis.
The committee decided that the corporation would be a subsidiary company of Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) and the chairman of OMC will be the management director of the proposed entity.“The proposed corporation will help scaling up mineral exploration activities and upgrade exploration to G2 level from G3 level, which will enable achieving higher potential of mining sector,” an official said.
Notably, the state government identified seven G3 level mines for auction. However, pending approval from the Centre, the state could not put them under auction. Officials said that the new corporation would help bringing those G3 mines to G2 level, which can then put on auction in the near future, sources said.