States »EasPosted at: Jun 16 2021 5:38PM Odisha BJP demands state govt. to takeover extracted iron ore worth Rs 10,000 cr lying unsold
Bhubaneswar, Jun 16 (UNI) Odisha BJP today demanded the state government take over the extracted and un evacuated iron ores worth around Rs 10,000 crore lying unsold in various iron ore blocks of the state.
Addressing newsmen here BJP leader and Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi said 16.5 MMT of iron ore worth around Rs 10,000 crore was lying unsold in different iron ore blocks of the state.
He said the minerals should be sold as per the MMDR Act to increase the revenue of both the state and central governments, create employment opportunities and maintain a balance in the competition in the steel industry sector.
Mr Majhi said on behalf of party MLAs he has written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Coal and Mines Minister Prahalad Joshi and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to intervene in the matter and protect the interest of the people of the state.
The BJP leader said prior to the outbreak of the Covid pandemic 17 mining leases with a total capacity of approximately 58 to 60 MMT of iron ore were auctioned in March 2020 in Odisha.
Out of which 16.5 MMT iron ore including 8.5 MMT of iron ore in Nuagaon iron ore block of Keonjhar district worth around Rs 10,000 crore was available on November 1, 2020, and could not be lifted within the prescribed seven months period as per the MMDR Act.
Mr Majhi said the mine leaseholders had moved the High Court for the extension of their lease period. But the High Court in its order stated that the Principal Mines Secretary would take a decision on the issue and the decision would be binding on all parties.
Later, the Mines Secretary denied the extension and held that the minerals not lifted are deemed to be the property of the State government and can be sold or disposed of by the state government.
But the state government, the BJP leader alleged, has not taken any action to sell the iron ore leading to a shortage of the mineral in the market and a hike in the price of iron ore prices.
He said both the state and central governments are deprived of substantial revenue to be earned from levy and taxes to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore which can provide fiscal stimulus during the pandemic.
Mr Majhi said the revenue collected from the unsold mineral could be utilised for strengthening the health infrastructure during Covid 19 pandemic and growth of industrialisation in the state.
This apart it would also act as a catalyst for cost reduction in key sectors such as infrastructure, boost transport sector, generate employment opportunities and improve economic growth in Odisha.
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