Bhubaneswar, Dec 18 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday appealed to all in the mining fraternity of the state to put more efforts for sustainable mining by adopting new initiatives of international benchmark.

Patnaik who laid the foundation for the corporate office of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) here said Odisha is on the forefront of adopting cutting edge technology and sustainable mining practices.

He said that OMC has produced more than 30-million-ton ores in the last fiscal with a turnover of over Rs. 14,000 Crore. The Corporation,the Chief Minister said, is marching ahead, and today, it’s the 4th largest mining company in the country.

He wished the OMC to touch new heights of excellence and establish itself as a globally acclaimed organization.

The Chief Minister also laid foundation for 5 Odisha Mining Adarsh Vidyalayas,inaugurated 7 Quality Control Labs, 10 Sample Processing Units, one Chrome Ore Beneficiation Plant of OMC and flagged off 6 Mobile Health Units on the occasion.

Patnaik congratulated the OMC for leading by example in not only contributing to the economy but also to sustainable mining and spreading happiness amongst the people through its various people-centric development and welfare activities.

He said that be it sports, health, education or be it periphery development, OMC has always put its best efforts in serving society.

Expressing happiness over OMC’s welfare initiatives in mining areas, the CM said that OMC has set up five CBSE-affiliated fully residential schools for the students of the mining periphery.

The Mobile Health Unit is an excellent initiative and will play important role in providing health care facilities at the doorsteps of the villagers around the operational areas of OMC, he added.

Patnaik said the Chrome Ore Beneficiation Plant at South Kaliapani and the Quality Control Laboratories at different operational areas will play an important role in adopting more transparency and quick dispatch of quality raw materials to the user industries.