BHUBANESWAR: As steel making industries of Odisha are facing acute shortage of raw materials, the State Government on Tuesday asked Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) to fast track operations and produce 6.55 lakh tonnes of ore by March-end.
“This year, we have a target to produce 6.55 MT ore and it will be gradually increased to 10 MT in next financial year,” OMC Managing Director Girish SN told reporters.
Chief Secretary AP Padhy reviewed status of all the mines leased out to OMC at the Secretariat here.
Girish said in the current year, the total mineral production has been 5.6 MT by mid-February.
Reviewing development of different mines allotted to OMC, Padhy advised the company to focus on mines with large reserves. He directed OMC to take appropriate technical expertise and adequate safety measures for underground mining activities.
Replying to a media query, Girish said OMC has been allotted 35 mines of which four gemstone mines were found financially unviable. It was decided in the meeting to surrender these mines to the Ministry. Five projects namely Daitari iron ore mine, Gandhamardan Block-B, Kurmitar iron ore mine, South Kaliapani chromite mines and Sukrangi chromite mines have already been put for production.