Odisha's iron ore output could rise by five percent

Odisha's iron ore production is likely to rise by about five percent in the financial year ending March 2014, a senior mines department official said Tuesday.

The state produced about 66 million tonnes of iron ore in fiscal 2011-12 and around 62 million tonne in 2012-13 fiscal.

"This financial year, the production could be around 65 million tonnes," the state mines department director Deepak Mohanty told IANS.

The additional iron ore would come from the two highest-producing areas of Joda in Keonjhar district and Koira in Sundergarh district, he added. Last year, the government had capped output at 40 and 12 million tonne respectively, in these two regions.

The cap had been imposed after allegations that mineral transportation in the region was causing adverse impact on environment.

"With the state government enhancing the cap to 44 and 13 million tonnes after the state pollution control board cleared the allegation, we hope to meet the 65 million tonne target this year," he said.

Odisha is the biggest producer of iron ore in the country.