Ruling out the possibility of acute raw material scarcity after the lapses of existing mining leases of several mines by end of the current fiscal, Odisha government on Wednesday said it is committed to complete the auctions on time.
State steel and mines minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick said the government has already started the auction process for different mineral blocks.
"Auctions of three iron ore blocks, one manganese, two chromite blocks and one graphite block have already been completed," Mallick said while addressing the India Mining Conclave 2019 here.
Auctions of another 31 mineral blocks are in the pipeline, the minister said adding that it will be completed in a phased manner.
Out of 31 blocks on offer, 27 are iron ore mines, two graphite and two manganese mines, he said.
Mallick also urged the mineral industry to use latest technology in exploration process and ensure least damage to environment and ecosystem of the mining area.
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Odisha Chief Secretary AK Tripathy said that the state administration has been working to ensure that there will be "no disruption" in mineral production due to lapses of mining leases in March, 2020.
Additional Chief Secretary (Steel & Mines), R K Sharma said the mining sector contributes about 10 per cent to the GSDP of Odisha till the 2018-19 fiscal.
"However, for some reasons, it has come down from the double digit to single (for a period). Now it has started picking up and in future, the mining sector will contribute significantly to the state economy," he said.
On the expiry of the mining leases of several mines in March, 2020, Sharma reiterated that the state government has already started the process for fresh auction of mines with the sole intention of providing uninterrupted supply of raw materials to the industries.