Master plan to regulate mining in Orissa

An 11-member committee headed by the chief secretary would consider and recommend maximum quantity of iron ore, manganese ore that should be extracted from Joda and Koira areas based on which production of individual mines would be regulated to ensure judicious and sustainable exploitation of
valuable minerals, a notification issued by the Steel and Mines department said.

Stating that the local environment of Joda in Keonjhar district and Koira in Sundergarh district had been badly affected on account of excessive production and transportation of iron ore and manganese ore from mines, a senior official said that it was necessary to regulate production and despatch of minerals from mines.

Guidelines of regulation would be made taking into account the need for conservation of minerals, carrying capacity of the region, railway and road infrastructure available, impact on environment and the pollution factor, he said.

The 11-member committee would also comprise state Forest secretary, secretary of state pollution control board, chairman of the Paradip Port Trust, General Manager East Coast Railway, GM, South-Eastern Railway and other related to production and transportation of minerals.