Bhubaneshwar, Sep 14: Odisha as one of the key resource-producing states in the country with a large mineral reserve base, must go for large-scale mining using cutting-edge technical solutions to meet the industry needs,Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick said.
Odisha, Mallick said, is committed towards the growth of the Mining and Metal Sector by promoting exploration, auctioning more blocks, expediting the operationalisation of these blocks keeping in mind the concept of sustainability in line with the National Mineral Policy of the Nation.
The Minister was speaking virtually at a conference on “Odisha Metals & Mining Conference 2023” with the theme “Unleashing potential for sustainable growth,organized by ASSOCHAM on Thursday
The goal of the conference was to inspire all stakeholders to transform the nation’s untapped mineral potential in a sustainable way by ensuring their participation to realize “Atma Nirbhar Bharat.”
He said Odisha is historically regarded as one of the key resource-producing states in the nation, with a large mineral reserve base that provides the mineral industry with considerable growth potential.
A paradigm shift is required to move from business as usual to large-scale mining using cutting-edge technical solutions in order to meet the industry needs in the state, Mallick said.
Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Steel & Mines Deoranjan Kumar Singh said Odisha government is working in a coordinated manner to explore more and more blocks and auction them.
Chairman, Odisha State Development Council and CMD, MGM Minerals Ltd P L Mohanty said Odisha has taken steps to promote sustainable mining practices by enforcing environmental safeguards which ensures responsible mining thereby minimizing ecological impacts.
ASSOCHAM National Council member and Managing Director, Tata Steel Mining Ltd Pankaj Satjita said Mining should be done with the objective of resource stewardship, intergenerational equity, improving biodiversity, and water availability and minimizing the negative impact of climate change
Jindal Steel & Power Executive Vice President Bibhu Prasad Mishra focused on logistics concerns for resource evacuation for the mineral based industry on the state. He also emphasised on raw material security and speedy EC/FC clearances for sustainable operation in the state.
Managing Director, SNM Group Prabodh Mohanty said Odisha being the largest producer of iron ore, coal, and bauxite will naturally contribute to the industrial development of the state and India at large.
