By Our Correspondent
KOIRA/BHUBANESWAR: With Executive Association demanding NINL merger with SAIL/RINL/NMDC, the NINL has scheduled an e-auction for 4,000 tonnes of iron ore lump (Fe: 62-65%, 10-40 mm) from its captive mine in Odisha’s Koira mining circle. The auction is scheduled for November 12 and the base price has been set at INR 7,800/tonnes, including royalty. NINL has been granted permission to sell 2 Million Tonnes of iron ore in the merchant market over a period of two years.
In August this year, the defunct Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited with the help from National Mineral Development Corporation Limited had started its mining operations in Odisha’s mineral rich Koira region of Sundargarh. The operations of NINL iron ore mines at Mithirda mine block is going on.
Considering the capacity of the plant (1.1Mt), NINL was granted Mining Lease(ML) over an area of 1798.338 ha in Koira block of Sundergarh and Keonjhar districts of Odisha for Iron ore for its captive use. Mining lease area over 1798.338 Ha was granted in favour of Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited vide the State Govt. Letter No. 4386, dtd. 05.06.1999, letter no. 4858 dtd.19.06.1999 and letter no. 4553, dtd.27.08.2002.
The mining plan over the area was approved by IBM vide letter no. 314(3)/2003- MCCM(C)/MP-13 dated 02.08.2004 as per the provision under Rule 22 of MCR- 1960, Amendment 1987. Subsequently 924.048 Ha area was surrendered to State Govt. after detailed exploration carried out by MECL.
Thus, the mining lease area admeasures about 874.290 ha, of which about 871.427 ha falls in Sundargarh district and the remaining 2.863 ha falls in Keonjhar district. Total ML area is covered under nine villages out of which Mithirda, Kriyakudar, Basada, Dalita, Rusibenua, Mandajoda and Kadalia villages are coming under Koira Tehsil of Sundargarh district and Pirhapokhari & Handibhanga villages coming under Barbil Tehsil of Keonjhar districts.Mining Plan for 2.5 Mt capacity Iron Ore Production has been approved by IBM over the revised lease area vide letter no. 314(3)/2008-MCCM(C)/MP- 53/1086 dated 16.06.2009
On 09 Mar 2021 NINL has got permission to sell 50% of annual capacity of iron ore mines to sell in open market to meet employee salary & arrear salary with other legitimate dues. Even if MDO has been selected but production from mines will take time. Employees of NINL are helpless, almost 2 years plant production is stopped, no steps from shareholders or both Central State Goverments were proved fruitful. Association demanding NINL merger with SAIL/RINL/NMDC.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs last year had given its in-principle approval for the strategic disinvestment of equity shareholding of MMTC (49.78%), NMDC (10.10%), MECON (0.68%), BHEL (0.68%), IPICOL (12.00%) and The Orissa Mining Company Ltd (20.47%) in NINL.
