Official sources said the decision was taken at a review meeting on OMC's mining projects here and the collectors and tehsildars have been asked to identify non-forest land in advance for compensatory afforestation.
Collectors of Kalahandi and Bolangir have been asked to take the lead as large patches of non-forest land is available in these districts.
The Chief Secretary Bijoy Patnaik has advised use of digital positioning system and satellite images for identification of such land.
Forest clearance for Gandhamardan, an iron ore mine in Keonjhar forest division, South Kaliapani Chromite mines in Dhenkanal forest division, Sukrangi Chromite Mines in Cuttack divisionn, Baliparbat Stockyard in Daitari extension area allotted to OMC are awaited.
The meeting resolved that revenue, forest and environment and steel and mines departments will give necessary instructions to their field level officials to expedite different proposals for clearances of OMC mines.
It has also been decided that the committee on eco-sensitive zone, which was constituted by the state government, will complete within a month the examination of issues relating to working of mines in eco-sensitive areas and area within one km distance from any sanctuary boundary, the sources said.
