Odisha to auction 16 mines by March next year: minister

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government is set to auction 16 mines including 10 iron ore reserves by the end of March 2019.

State Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick said here Tuesday that leases of these 16 mines have been expired and the Centre has been informed about the decision of the state government.

       “Once we get the approval from the Centre, the state

government will put 16 mines under auction,” he said. The auction process is likely to begin this month.

     The minister said at least 31 mine owners have failed to deposit penalty for illegal mining as per the order of the Supreme Court.

       Of the 31 mine owners, the state government has

cancelled lease of six and 25 got stay order from the court, the Minister said.

       The owners of the six mines whose leases have been

cancelled will have to participate in the auction as per

normal procedure.