Odisha govt likely to auction 19 mines in 2022-23 financial year

Bhubaneswar, Aug 14: The Odisha government has initiated the process for auction of several mines in the state.   While notice Inviting Tender (NIT) for auction of 4 mineral blocks has been issued on March 29 this year and the state government further proposed to auction 15 mineral blocks during 2022-23 financial year, said a mines official.  “The process for auction of mineral blocks is going on. We will auction several iron ore and manganese mines this year,” said Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick. The state government has issued NIT for auction of 4 mineral blocks--Koira, Kadodihi Iron ore Block, Orahuri Manganese & Iron ore Block, Kusumdihi Manganese & Iron ore Block and Kedesala NorthEast Iron ore block. All four mines are located in Sundergarh district. Besides, the government has lined up seven iron ore mines, four bauxite, two manganese, a limestone and dolomite and another copper and nickel blocks for auction during the current year. It has proposed to auction Laupada, Rengalaberha N-E extension & Nuagaon West, Alaghat West, Gandhalpada West, Kendudihi North, Roida-I and Jhumka-Pathiriposhi West iron blocks. Similarly, Ballada, Nunapaimali, Sijimali and Kutrumali bauxite mineral blocks have been put in papers for auction this year. The other proposed mines to be auctioned this year include Tunmura Limestone & Dolomite mine, Bhanjikusum Manganese Block, Dudhisasol East Copper Block and Kutinga Manganese Block. The government has successfully auctioned 34 mineral blocks, which includes 18 iron ore mineral blocks and five composite mines of iron and manganese ores, in the last five years. Meanwhile, the state government has recorded growth in collection of mining revenue in first four months (April-July) of the 2022-23 financial year. The total collection of revenue from the mining sector till July end is estimated at Rs 13,980 crore against around Rs 11,900 crore collected during corresponding period of previous year. The state government has targeted to generate Rs 44,000 crore from the mining and metal sector during the current financial year while it had earned over Rs 48,000 crore in the 2021-22 fiscal. Odisha earns nearly 26% of its total revenue from the mining and metal sector.