Odisha forms committee for auction of major minerals

The state government has notified a high level committee to streamline auction of major minerals. The committee is chaired by development commissioner with secretaries of steel & mines and industries departments as members. The director of mines, managing director of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), chief executive officer of Orissa Space Applications Centre (ORSAC) will be the other members of this panel while the additional secretary (steel & mines) has been named the member convenor. The first meeting of the committee is scheduled on July 28. The committee';s mandate is to monitor the preparatory work relating to auction of major mineral concessions including conduct of DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) survey and preparation of tender documents. Also, the committee would advise the government on earmarking of leases for reservation for PSUs for auction of Mls (mining leases) and auction of PL (prospecting license) cum ML. Moreover, the committee would advise the government on prioritisation of mineral exploration work to facilitate auction/reservation of leases. The state government has lined up 13 mineral blocks for auctions after the Union mines ministry recently notified the Mineral Auction Rules, 2015 under MMDR Act. Out of the 13 identified blocks, six are in the G2 exploration stage with the balance seven in the G3 level. The Auction Rules state mineral blocks need to have reached the G2 level of exploration to be considered eligible for auctions. The six G2 level blocks includes five iron ore mines- Sagakhai, Ghodabirami, Dholta Pahad, Balia Pahad, Jhumuka Pahad, all in Sundargarh district and one limestone deposit â€" Kotamela in Malkangiri district. In the G3 stage are four iron ore mines- Mankadanasha, Puraibahal, Chandiposhi, Khandadhar in Sundargarh district and three manganese ore deposits- Lasarda, Pacheri and Kendudihi in Keonjhar district. According to the notified Auction Rules, 2015, the state governments will have the discretion to reserve particular mine or mines for any particular end use. Auctions can be conducted only through an online electronic platform.