By Dr. Bibhu Kalyan Pradhan
BHUBANESWAR:Odisha, located on the eastern coast of India, is a promising region of the world, where a range of mineral resources is abundant. The state is rich in resources. Odisha is a major mineral-producing state of India, with high-grade iron ore, bauxite, chromite, manganese and coal. It is responsible for over 95% of India’s chromite, 90%+ of nickel and a significant portion of bauxite, iron ore and manganese, making it an important industrial centre for metal production. Along with vast reserves of bauxite, chinaclay, chromite, coal, dolomite, fireclay, graphite, gemstones, iron ore, limestone, manganese ore sand, nickel ore, pyrophyllite and quartz. The State Geological Survey has added a colourful feather to the state’s crown after the discovery of diamonds in the Dharam Batt area of Nuapada district by the State Geological Survey.
Other mineral resources of the state include copper ore, lead ore, titanium-bearing vanadiferous magnetite, talc/soapstone and high magnesia igneous rocks. The recent development in the mining industry has made the state an attractive destination, with entrepreneurs from all over the world flocking to stake their claim. The state’s rich mineral wealth is attributed to its favourable geological setting. Located on the eastern side of peninsular India, about 72.5% of the area of Odisha is occupied by Precambrian metamorphic rocks (of Archean and Proterozoic age), which contain most of the minerals.
The Tertiary and Quaternary formations occupying the rest of the area give way to aluminous/nickeliferous laterites and heavy minerals (in beach sands). The Archean rocks in northern Odisha include supracrustal belts of metasedimentary rocks, which include the iron ore supergroups containing iron, manganese, gold and base metals. These are also represented by gneisses, granites, migmatites (Singhbhum, Bonai and Mayurbhanj plutons) and mafic/ultramafic intrusives.
These intrusives are associated with chromite, titaniferous vanadiferous magnetite and PGM. The Bastar Cratonic Complex of Archean age in western Odisha includes gneisses, granites, migmatites and strontium-tantalum-niobium bearing pegmatites. Proterozoic rocks in western Odisha exhibit platform sedimentary formations and associated limestone deposits. In northwestern Odisha, these consist of low to medium metamorphic grade metasediments classified as the Gangpur Group, which host manganese, limestone and lead-zinc deposits. In central and southern Odisha, the Proterozoic is represented by the Eastern Ghats Granulite Belt which includes bauxite, manganese, graphite and gemstone mineralisation.
Odisha is a major mineral-producing state of India, with vast deposits of high-grade iron ore, bauxite, chromite, manganese and coal. It accounts for over 95% of India’s chromite, 90%+ of nickel and a significant portion of bauxite, iron ore and manganese, making it an important industrial hub for metal production with vast deposits of bauxite, chinaclay, chromite, coal, dolomite, fireclay, graphite, gemstones, iron ore, limestone, manganese ore sand, nickel ore, pyrophyllite and quartz. The discovery of diamonds in the Dharambandha area of Nuapada district by the State Geological Survey has added a colourful feather to the crown of the state. Other mineral resources of the state include copper ore, lead ore, titanium-bearing vanadiferous magnetite, talc/soapstone and high magnesia igneous rocks.
The recent development of the mining industry has made the state an attractive destination, with entrepreneurs from all over the world flocking to get their share of the fortune. The rich mineral resources of the state are due to its favourable geographical setting. Located on the eastern side of peninsular India, Odisha is occupied by about 72.5% of Precambrian metamorphic rocks (of Archean and Proterozoic age), which cover most of the mineral deposits. The Gondwana terrane, which covers the coal resources, is located on more than 8% of the land. The Tertiary and Quaternary formations that occupy the rest of the area provide a way for aluminous/nickeliferous laterites and heavy minerals (in beach sands).
The Archean rocks of northern Odisha include supracrustal belts of metasedimentary rocks, which contain iron, manganese, gold and base metals. These are also represented by gneisses, granites, migmatites (Singhbhum, Bonai and Mayurbhanj plutons) and mafic/ultramafic intrusives. These intrusives are associated with chromite, titaniferous veniferous magnetite and PGM. The Archean Bastar Cratonic Complex in western Odisha includes gneisses, granites, migmatites and strontium-tantalum-niobium bearing pegmatites. The Proterozoic rocks in western Odisha exhibit plate-like sedimentary formations and associated limestone deposits. In north-western Odisha, it consists of low to medium metamorphic grade metasediments classified as the Gangpur Group, which host manganese, limestone and lead-zinc deposits. In central and southern Odisha,
*Key aspects of mining revenue in Odisha:*
Total revenue: Mining revenue has shown significant growth, increasing by over ₹49,000 crore in 2021-22 and has remained stable at around ₹46,000 crore due to auction reforms. Minor minerals administration: To streamline the processes, the administration of minor minerals (sand, stone, etc.) was transferred from the Revenue Department to the Steel and Mines Department.
Revenue loss and issues: A recent report has revealed a huge potential loss of ₹864.45 crore in minor minerals revenue during 2015-2022 due to uncollected dues, illegal activities and non-performing or idle resources.
Key rules: Activities are regulated by the Odisha Minor Mineral Concession (OMMC) Rules, 2016, focusing on sustainable, IT-enabled mines and the collection of appropriate royalty.
Key sectors: Districts like Khordha are rich in stone and sand, contributing significantly to local construction and state revenue. To boost revenue, the government is focusing on operationalising inactive mines and curbing illegal, temporary mining using digital, IT-enabled systems.
*Labour migration in Odisha*
Labour migration in Odisha is a significant phenomenon, with an estimated 1.7 million people expected to migrate to other states in search of better wages by 2023. Driven by agricultural woes, poverty and a lack of local opportunities, many migrants, especially in western Odisha (Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada), work in informal, high-hazard sectors such as brick kilns. In some areas, nearly three-fifths of households report having migrated for work in the past decade. Although many are seasonal, a significant proportion migrate for periods of more than six months. Migration is predominantly driven by those with low levels of education, although it affects different skill levels.
Major destinations include the southern states (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana) and neighbouring states, where there is a high density of construction and brick kiln industries. While remittances have improved household incomes, raised educational aspirations and fuelled local construction, they have come at the cost of social dislocation and have often exacerbated exploitative working conditions for women and families. Government measures: The Odisha government, through the Directorate of Labour, monitors and provides assistance to stranded or deceased migrant workers. Many workers, especially in the unorganised sector, lack social security and face harsh working conditions, with many facing long-term displacement, which creates social dislocation. Migration from the hilly, tribal-dominated districts of Kandhamal and Kalahandi in southern Odisha to South Indian states, especially Kerala, is a recent phenomenon.
It began in the late 1990s with men from villages in Daringbadi block of Kandhamal travelling to Kerala to work as unskilled labourers in educational and other institutions. Over the past 25 years, the trend of migration to Kerala has spread to the region. To better understand the profile of migration from southern Odisha, we conducted four empirical studies between 2019 and 2021, covering one block each in Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal and Kalahandi districts.
A recent study on migration in climate-sensitive regions of South Asia found that an increasing number of households are adopting labour migration as a livelihood strategy. It allows them to diversify their income and spread their risks, while also helping them fulfil their aspirations. Importantly, the study distinguishes between migration for coping and migration for adaptation – in other words, migration out of crisis and migration for growth. In this article, we focus on the latter – opportunistic and aspirational migrants. Our experience working with migrant communities in Odisha suggests that the difference between crisis migrants and aspirational migrants is the level of control that migrants have over their migration decisions.
(The Writer By Dr. Bibhu Kalyan Pradhan is Editor, South Asian Trade and Law, Journal, views expressed are personal)
