By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The Naveen Patnaik led BJD Government, which had successfully auctioned as many as 24 mining blocks under Joda-Koira-Sukinda-Rairangpur belts of mineral rich Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj and Jajpur, and is expected to get around Rs 4.87 lakh crore, till Monday, executed mining lease to near about 18 lease holders.
It may be noted here that Sajjan Jindal led JSW Steel and Laxmi Mittal’s AMNS India has already started operations in their blocks. Sajjan’s JSW had won 5 blocks while Mittal’s AMNS won 2 blocks.
Steel and Mines Secretary RK Sharma while addressing a a national e-conference titled “Post Covid-19 Scenario in Mining Sector: Adapting to the New Normal and Moving Forward” held jointly by the Indian Chamber of Commerce , State unit and the Steel and Mines Department, said despite supply chain disruption, labour unavailability and low demand due to Covid pandemic, the State Government has succeeded to auction 24 leases and completed mining lease execution in 18 leases by which some of the units have started operations.
ICC, State Council chairman MC Thomas welcoming guests appreciated proactive measures taken by the State Government during Covid pandemic.Convenor Manish Kharbanda said lockdown disrupted collection of mining revenue in April and May. Due to a 66-per cent drop, GST collection was also disrupted, he said.
He suggested some special incentives for Odisha plants. He said remodeling of national mineral index and provision of dedicated corridors at certain industrial zones should be made to facilitate effective logistics.
Mines Director Debidutta Biswal, OMC CGM DK Mohanty, KPGM Advisory Services director Bidyut Chakraborty, Vedanta COO Amit Jain, AMNS India’s mining operations head Sabyasachi Mohanty, IDL Explosives Ltd COO AD Sao and SNM Group MD Prabodh Mohanty were present.
