Odisha CM emphasises on mineral reforms to ensure uninterrupted ore supply

Bhubaneswar, Dec 9 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday emphasised on further mineral reforms to ensure uninterrupted supply of ore to industries and safeguarding the employment and state revenues.
The Chief Minister discussed this with Union Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi and Union Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and senior officials over video conference.
Odisha has been one of the first states to successfully conduct auction of mineral blocks in accordance with the orders of Supreme Court. However, there have been some glitches in commencement in mining operations leading to disruptions in production and dispatch leading to shortage of minerals for end-user industries and price rise.
The Chief Minister said that such disruptions and uncertainties in production and dispatch are undesirable, especially during these times.
Shortages of ore and resultant high price have posed a challenge for the sponge iron plants, small and medium-size steel plants. This has affected the revenues of the state and the employment of the people dependent on the sector, he added.
Patnaik suggested that the state and Central Public Sector Undertakings can play a very important role in maintaining the level of supply of ore to the end-user industries at such critical moments.