Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has requested Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy to expedite forest and environmental clearances for mineral blocks already auctioned in Odisha. According to the latest official statement, he also specifically sought the allocation of the Shashubohumali bauxite block and the Thakurani iron ore block to the state-owned Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC). The Shashubohumali mineral block in Rayagada district contains deposits of around 81 million tonnes of high-grade bauxite, while the Thakurani iron ore block in Keonjhar district contains more than 50 million tonnes of iron ore resources. At the meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, Majhi highlighted Odisha's growing importance in India's mineral economy and industrial development, emphasizing that active support from the Central government is required to further accelerate Odisha's growth in the mining sector.
As reported by ANI, Odisha produced around 471 million tonnes of minerals during 2025-26 and generated nearly ₹46,000 crore in mining-related revenue. The state has emerged as a key driver of India's industrial growth, with the chief minister highlighting Odisha's critical role in the country's mineral economy and industrial growth. Majhi emphasized that stronger cooperation from the Centre would help accelerate the sector's growth further, noting that active support from the Central government is required to further accelerate Odisha's growth in the mining sector.
According to the latest official statement, the chief minister further requested support for the rapid development of railway and port infrastructure to make mineral transportation more efficient and cost-effective. He said enhanced connectivity would strengthen Odisha's competitiveness as a major mining and manufacturing hub while facilitating faster movement of minerals to domestic and export markets. The discussions also focused on improving mining logistics and infrastructure to support the state's expanding industrial base, with the chief minister underscoring the need for rapid expansion of railway and port infrastructure.
Addressing environmental concerns associated with mining activities, the chief minister proposed the formulation of a suitable framework for filling abandoned coal mines with fly ash as an environmentally sustainable measure. Such an initiative would contribute to environmental protection while enabling productive utilisation of mined-out areas. He also sought Central assistance in deploying advanced technologies for mineral exploration and analysis to improve resource assessment and unlock new reserves. The meeting also discussed operational issues faced by major Central public sector enterprises engaged in mining operations, with senior officials from public sector mining and energy companies including Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), Singareni Collieries Company Limited and the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) participating in the discussions.
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy acknowledged that many challenges facing the mining sector require coordinated action by multiple ministries and departments, including Railways, Ports, Forest and Environment. According to ANI, the Union minister proposed holding a high-level meeting involving the Centre and the state government to resolve pending issues through coordinated discussions. The meeting also focused on the development of mining-affected regions and the welfare of local communities. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised implementing welfare schemes in a saturation mode to ensure complete coverage of all eligible beneficiaries. The meeting resolved to integrate Central and state government schemes with District Mineral Foundation (DMF) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for coordinated implementation in mining regions to promote comprehensive development. The Odisha government informed the meeting that it has launched the 'CM Sampada' scheme to support this objective, which aims to improve living standards, infrastructure, healthcare, education and livelihood opportunities in mineral-bearing districts. The meeting also reviewed issues concerning various Central mining PSUs, with senior officials from these organisations participating in discussions on key operational and developmental issues. Senior state government officials, including Chief Secretary Anu Garg, senior bureaucrats from various departments, the Union Mines Secretary and other senior officials from the Ministry of Mines, were present at the meeting.
