Summary:
BHUBANESWAR: Union mines secretary Anil G Mukim on Friday stressed on auction of more mining blocks in Odisha.Briefing reporters after a meeting with chief minister Naveen Patnaik here, the Union mines secretary said he was informed by the state government officials that around 17 to 18 mining blocks including iron ore blocks will be put for auction during the current financial year. "Odisha is the mining capital of the country. It contributes in a very substantive manner to the mining activity of the country. The state government is very proactive in mining auction process," said Mukim.To queries on performance of other mining states in the auction process, the mines secretary said Chhattisgarh , Jharkhand, Rajasthan , Madhya Pradesh are some of the states which have fared well in the auction process.Of total 43 mineral blocks auctioned in the country by July 25, Odisha has five blocks comprising three iron ore and one each limestone and manganese ore. New projects have been approved from the fund,” said Mukim.The government spends the DMF fund on housing, drinking water, education, healthcare, ecology protection, sanitation, skill development, women, child care and empowerment of physically challenged persons.In Odisha, projects worth Rs 3000 crore have so far been approved from the DMF fund..