Odisha To Auction 11 Mining Blocks During 2021-22 Financial Year

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has lined up as many as 11 mineral blocks for bidding during 2021-22 financial year.

According to government sources, the auction process will be completed by March this year.

Of the 11 mines to go under the hammer, there are iron ore blocks, manganese blocks, graphite blocks, limestone blocks and dolomite blocks.

However, State mines director Debidutta Biswal informed that the auction documents of the mining blocks have been sent to the government for minor amendments.

“The bidding process will start immediately as soon as the documents are amended,” said Biswal.

Odisha government had set a target to auction 24 mineral blocks during 2020-21 financial year and the process was almost completed. However, mining leases (ML) for only 19 mineral blocks could be executed.

“As the mining lease agreement failed to be inked within the stipulated time, Jindal Steel &Power Limited (JSPL) and Shyam Steel Industries Ltd had to lose Guali iron ore and Jilling-Langalota Iron ore mines respectively. Both the mines have been allotted to Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) for a period of 10 years,” added Biswal.

(Edited by Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)