Arun Joshi
India is home to invaluable minerals across the country and these are its greatest assets and contributor to the economy and national security. Odisha, rich with huge reserves of many such minerals makes out a case for focused study and analysis how mining minerals can bring it a lot of wealth and add to its reputation in the national spectrum as a driving force in the national security. The national security is not all about the deployment of soldiers and the wars that they are assigned to fight on borders or take care of the internal disturbances, the very concept of national security invokes the inner wealth. It is mandatory that how the natural resources are preserved, tapped and used in the overall development. The untapped natural resources are like corpses having no use for anyone. The advantage travels to the forces who want to see India as a weak and struggling nation.
The minerals are all-time big source of huge wealth, that offers [prospects of marketing, jobs and running of industries. These figure prominently in the overall health of the state and the nation . Odisha has got its own place, but unfortunately that has neither been registered nor recognized as there have been less efforts than need to put it as a leading state in this sector.
The problem arises when its mining blocs are caught in the political indecision. The mineral wealth not only suffers from lack of the will to auction but also leaves it under wraps. That is suicidal. The delay in auction and in mining deals a blow to the opportunities and hits at future prospects of land and its future , and also shrinks the contribution toward national economy.. Odisha which is having treasure trove of the minerals , and recent discovery of diamond in the Dharambandha area of Nuapada district added to the vitality of Odisha’s treasure trove.
Odisha is a state that has been blessed with large reserves of minerals like, bauxite, Chinavlay chemicals , coal and granties. This is a recorded fact . And this is what makes this state a big stake holder in the mineral sector . Studies have also pointed that the state has among other minerals, copper ore, lead ore, titanium bearing vanadiferous magnetite, talc/ soap stone and high magnesia igneous rocks.
The mineral wealth of the state is known world over , and the people from across the world have been visiting the state to stake their claim on their share in the mineral wealth .This is a good sign, but a better policy is needed to get the full fortune out of this wealth.
A recent release regarding mining blocks said that Government of India’s Ministry of Mines issued the “ Notice Inviting Tender dated November 19, 2023 in respect of 20 blocks of Critical and Strategic minerals notified in the part D of the First Schedule of MMDR Act.”
This listed 24 such minerals , 1, Beryl and other beryline bearing minerals , 2. Cadmium bearing minerals. 3. Cobalt bearing minerals. 4. Gallium bearing minerals. 5. Glauconite. 6. Graphite. 7. Indium bearing minerals. 8. Lithium bearing minerals. 9. Molybdenum bearing minerals. 10. Nickel bearing minerals. 11. Niobium bearing minerals. 12. Phosphate (without uranium). 13. Platinum group of elements bearing minerals. 14. Potash. 15. Minerals of the "rare earths" group not containing Uranium and Thorium. 16. Rhenium bearing minerals. 17. Selenium bearing minerals. 18. Tantalum bearing minerals. 19. Tellurium bearing minerals. 20. Tin bearing minerals. 21. Titanium bearing minerals and ores (ilmenite, rutile and leucoxene). 22. Tungsten bearing minerals. 23. Vanadium bearing minerals. 24. Zirconium bearing minerals and ores including zircon."
Odisha is having reserves of several of such critical and strategic minerals . Some of the bids were rejected and few others did not get adequate response. The new auction dates have been announced , and these make it mandatory for the bidders to apply online by May 16 . Yet again the fate will be decided by the nodal officer appointed by the government of India .
There is a need to have a synergy between the state and the Central government to push forward the mining sector of Odisha to tap its full potential in time before it’s too late.
Arun Joshi is author of “Eyewitness Kashmir; Teetering on Nuclear War and senior journalist based in Jammu and Kashmir, writes on South Asian affairs)
Disclaimer: This is the personal opinion of the author. The views expressed in this write-up have nothing to do with www.prameyanews.com.
