Business Standard reported that responding to the demand from various quarters, the state government has decided to reserve areas bearing iron ore, manganese ore, chromite ore and bauxite for undertaking prospecting and mining operations through the state controlled miner Odisha Mining Corporation

The government would invoke Section 17 A (2) of Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act-1957 for reservation of mine bearing areas. This would exclude the areas already held under any prospecting license (PL) or mining lease (ML) or areas reserved by the Central government under Section 17 A (1A) of the Act for any Central PSU.

OMC would make a fair and equitable distribution of minerals amongst the user industries for higher value addition in the state through appropriate long term arrangements based on their requirements.

The Director (mines) and director (geology) would furnish land particulars with boundaries in such areas for issuing notification in the official gazette.

The state government would also move the Government of India for appropriate approval for this reservation as required under sub-section 2 of Section 17 (A) of MMDR Act.

Source - Business Standard

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