World Bank ready to assist Odisha in mining

A World Bank team has offered to provide technical assistance, global expertise and logistic support to Odisha and its mining sector, official sources said today.
This was conveyed by the five-member World Bank Team led by Vikram Menon, State Programme Coordinator, to the state government while wrapping up its visit here yesterday.
"The team expressed its willingness to provide and utilise non-lending technical assistance and world-class expertise in the state mining sector and also mines of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC)," an official said.
During the meeting the World Bank team observed that OMC has the potential to be transformed into a world-class organisation. The team also wanted to share its expertise for mining activities under OMC to upscale its target production.

Chief Secretary J K Mohapatra asked the Directorate of Mining, Directorate of Geology and OMC to augment their internal capacity for better regulation, enforcement and professional management.
OMC should treat its funds as a social wellbeing fund and utilise it for long term and sustainable development of the sector, Mohapatra noted.

The meeting took up deliberations on issues like developing structured reform initiatives in the mining sector to make it sustainable and maximise revenue generation.
Leveraging mining wealth as a driver for inclusive growth of local community, adoption of green technology for sustainable economic growth and infrastructural development of state also figured in the discussion.

It was agreed upon in the meeting that DGPS mining map will be integrated with the revenue map. Regulatory and corporate strengthening initiatives will be taken up in the departments and corporations dealing with the mining sector.
Earlier, the World Bank team comprising consultants Richard J Taylor, Mining Specialist, Christopher Hood, Chartered Tax Advisor and Amarjyoti Mohapatra, Consultant during their interaction with the Steel and Mines Department had suggested creation of a Regional Mines Management Plan.
They too offered technical support to the State for scientific mining, review of mineral taxation, evaluation of community social responsibility (CSR) by mining agencies and industries, management of mineral revenue generation and mapping of mineral resources.

As the state has individual mines consisting of small stretches, technical know-how was felt necessary for developing a region of mines so that administration of mines and their management can be augmented.