Bhubaneswar: As part of efforts to further boost Odisha’s mining sector, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi held detailed discussions with Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Monday.
Officials said the meeting focused on removing bottlenecks, securing faster approvals, and enhancing Odisha’s contribution to India’s mineral economy.
It was noted that Odisha continues to lead the nation in mineral production and the state produced approximately 471 million tonnes of minerals and generated revenue of around Rs 46,000 crore during 2025-26.
The Chief Minister emphasised that sustained growth in this sector requires proactive support from the Centre, particularly in expediting forest and environmental clearances for auctioned mining blocks.
Majhi sought steps for quick forest and environmental clearances for all auctioned mineral blocks, allocation of the Sasubohumali bauxite mines and Thakurani iron ore block in favour of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC).
Emphasis was also laid on rapid development of rail and port infrastructure to make mineral transportation more efficient and cost-effective, creation of a suitable framework for backfilling abandoned coal mines using fly ash, with a strong focus on environmental protection, and introduction of advanced technology for high-precision mineral analysis.
Union Minister Reddy acknowledged the challenges and proposed convening a high-level inter-ministerial meeting involving all concerned Central Ministries and the state government to resolve mining-related issues comprehensively.
Both leaders stressed the need for the saturation mode implementation of all welfare schemes in mining-affected areas. They highlighted the importance of integrating Central and State schemes with DMF (District Mineral Foundation) funds and CSR contributions from companies through a unified approach. The state has already prepared a dedicated initiative called CM Sampada to achieve holistic development in these regions.
Senior officials from major Central PSUs — Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), NLC India, Singareni Collieries, NALCO, and the Indian Bureau of Mines — also participated and presented their specific issues.
The meeting was attended by Odisha’s Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Development Commissioner, Additional Chief Secretaries from key departments, and senior officials from the Ministry of Coal and Mines.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Reddy also chaired a review meeting to assess the performance of coal and mining sector entities operating in the state. Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, Odisha’s Minister for joined the inaugural session of the review meeting.
During the visit, the Union Minister undertook a detailed review of the performance of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and private industry establishments in Odisha.
In the presence of B Sairam, Chairman, Coal India Limited, Uday Anant Kaole, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, MCL, made a detailed presentation before the Coal Minister on the company’s operational performance, ongoing initiatives and infrastructure development plans aimed at supporting future growth and enhancing coal production capacities.
The presentation highlighted MCL’s efforts towards improving operational efficiency, strengthening logistics infrastructure and contributing to the nation’s energy security.
Officials said the review meeting focused on enhancing coal production, improving evacuation infrastructure, accelerating project implementation, diversification into clean energy and ensuring sustainable mining practices in line with the Central government’s vision of strengthening the nation’s energy security.
Earlier, during his visit, Reddy also interacted with members of MCL’s Women Mines Rescue Team and appreciated their courage, professionalism and dedication towards strengthening mine safety and emergency response preparedness. He commended the team for setting an inspiring example of women’s participation in critical mining operations.
