Merchant mines in Odisha may reopen next month as local govt issues orders

Lately, the state steel & mines department has issued vesting orders to all successful bidders, save one block won by Goa-based merchant miner Fomento Resources

Merchant mines in Odisha are set to recommence operations towards the middle of next month. The local government here has issued vesting orders necessary to restart mining activity at the leases.

Before the expiry of their leases on March 31 this year, the Odisha government had held online auctions of 24 merchant blocks containing deposits of iron ore, manganese and chromite. To facilitate seamless change in ownership and continuity in mining operations, the Centre had extended the validity of all statutory approvals, including critical ones like environment and forestry clearances by two years.

However, the onset and rapid spread of Covid-19 pandemic