Ministerial committee seeks deadline extension

The sixth round of discussions was held today and Prasanna Acharya, who is heading the committee, told reporters that views of different stake holders like mine owners, local steel and iron industries, Odisha Mining Corporation and NMDC were taken.

""We will request the state government for extension of deadline set for this month end for submitting the final report," he said adding policy formulation for smooth supply of ore to local industries is a lengthy process.

Acharya said the committee has taken views of different stake holders like mine owners, local steel and iron industries, Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and National Mineral Development Corporation.

The committee was set up in October in the wake of closure notice of Vedanta's alumina refinery due to scarcity of bauxite and some sponge iron units facing raw material shortage.

It had studied policies of different mineral rich states including Karnataka, Acharya said adding the committee would have to look into different aspects before preparing the final report. MORE