By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick on Wednesday said, 15 major mines and 16 minor mineral blocks will be auctioned soon and process for which has already been started. Minister Mallick said, so far, 36 mining blocks including 26 Iron-Ore, Manganese, 3 Manganese, 3 Chrome, 2 graphite and 3 limestone have been auctioned so far after the new mining and mineral policies while, 22 currently working, Minister Mallick said.
In the financial year 2020-21, the mining revenue was Rs 13,791 crore, while in 2021-22, the mining revenue was Rs 49,530 crore. So far this year, Rs 11.8 crore of revenue has been collected which is 21.78 per cent of the previous year.
This year, the total production of minerals is 107.546 million tonnes. Similarly, 100.612 million tonnes have been transported, which accounts for only 50 per cent of the country’s iron ore demand.
It may be noted that , Odisha has received the Rashtriya Khanij Vikas Puraskar first prize for the best-performing state in taking initiatives in the exploration, auction and operationalisation of mines 6th National Conclave of Mines and Minerals in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Odisha also received the first prize for the best-performing state in taking initiatives in the exploration, auction and operationalisation of mines. It carries a Rs 3 crore prize money. . Odisha received the second prize (Rs 2 crore cash) in Category II, in which MP stood first and Maharashtra came third. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated the state steel and mines department for the feat.
