Odisha Presents Reform-Led Mineral Governance Roadmap at National Meet

The two-day event brought together key stakeholders from across the country, including Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister C.R. Patil, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, along with state ministers, senior bureaucrats, policymakers, and experts from the mining and metals sector.

Addressing the gathering, Jena outlined Odisha’s recent policy interventions aimed at strengthening transparency, curbing illegal mining, and ensuring the efficient and sustainable utilisation of mineral resources. He highlighted the implementation of the Odisha Mineral Policy and Transparency System (OMPTS)–2025 and the revised Odisha Minor Mineral Concession (OMMC) Rules–2025, terming them “landmark reforms” that have significantly enhanced regulatory oversight, accountability, and ease of doing business in the mining sector.

The minister said that since assuming charge, the state government has successfully auctioned eight major mineral blocks, a move that has reinforced investor confidence and accelerated responsible mineral development. Notices Inviting Tenders (NITs) have also been issued for 12 additional major mineral blocks, underscoring Odisha’s commitment to a transparent, time-bound, and rule-based mineral allocation framework.

Placing Odisha’s experience in a national context, Jena made a series of forward-looking policy suggestions to the Centre and the assembled states. These included the rationalisation of duties on iron ore fines to address economic inefficiencies and promote optimal resource utilisation; the introduction of incentive mechanisms to encourage lessees to achieve timely and higher production within approved capacities; and the strengthening of state public sector undertakings through enhanced allocation of mineral blocks to ensure assured raw material supply for small and downstream industries.

He stressed that empowering state PSUs and promoting value addition would not only stabilise supply chains but also generate employment and support regional industrialisation.

Jena’s participation reaffirmed Odisha’s position as a key pillar of India’s mineral ecosystem, contributing a significant share of the country’s iron ore, chromite, and bauxite output. He said the state’s reform agenda is closely aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, with an emphasis on transparent, technology-driven, and environmentally sustainable mining practices.