Bhubaneswar, Jan 15: The Odisha Government has decided to set up Odisha Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (OMECL) under the guidelines of Odisha mineral exploration policy-2015 for identification of new mines and minerals in the State.
The corporation will be established to streamline the process of notification on mines auction and other technical things.
This was revealed in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Padhi here on Friday.
The corporation would be a subsidiary company of OMC and would extend the services of scientific exploration and analysis to other States and agencies on payment basis.
“The proposed Corporation would principally be a promotional agency, some revenue earning provisions be incorporated in it from the beginning,” said Chief Secretary Aditya Padhi in the meeting.
“That there is a need for formation of the Corporation as per the Odisha Mineral Exploration Policy- 2015 for identification of new mines and minerals in the State. The suggestions arrived at in today’s meeting through common deliberation will soon be put to Govt for consideration,” said Principal Secretary Steel & Mines Raj Kumar Sharma
The data shows that Odisha has around 700 Sq, Kms of virgin and free hold area which is supposed to be bearing the minerals like asbestos, bauxite, china clay, cobalt, chromites, fireclay, graphite, limestone, manganese, mineral sand, nickel, platinum group materials ( PGM), tin ore and vanadium apart from coal and iron ore. Till now, explored mines account for around 7% of the Gross Domestic Product of the State. The vast reserves of minerals have substantial scope for enhanced contribution to State’s GDP.
