Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday urged Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy to allocate the Sasubohumali bauxite block in Rayagada and the Thakurani iron ore block in Keonjhar to the state-run Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), according to a government statement.
Strategic Mineral Blocks
The Sasubohumali block, a high-grade bauxite deposit with an estimated reserve of around 81 million tonnes, is considered a key asset for the state's aluminium and refining sector. This block remains an unallocated strategic reserve under government oversight, while most other blocks have been allocated to industries through auctions. In March 2015, the Centre allocated the Karlapat bauxite block, which has 207 million tonnes of reserves, to OMC.
Regarding the Thakurani mining region, several blocks have been allocated to various private companies. However, the block sought by Odisha for OMC is a virgin mine that has not been auctioned or explored yet. A government official stated, “These two blocks would be critical for the state to attract industries as the government can promise raw materials of bauxite and iron ore.”
Meeting Highlights
During a meeting with Reddy at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar, Majhi sought greater central support to strengthen Odisha's mining sector and boost its contribution to the national economy. He highlighted that the state produced around 471 million tonnes of minerals in the fiscal year 2025-26, generating revenue of nearly Rs 46,000 crore. The chief minister stressed the need for enhanced Centre-state coordination to accelerate growth.
Majhi also requested expeditious forest and environmental clearances for auctioned mineral blocks. He emphasized the need for improved rail and port infrastructure to make mineral transportation more efficient and cost-effective.
Additional Proposals
Majhi further proposed framing a policy for backfilling abandoned coal mines using fly ash from an environmental perspective. He also flagged the need for advanced technology in mineral analysis.
In response, Reddy noted that resolving mining sector issues requires coordinated efforts among multiple ministries, including railways, ports, forests, and environment. He suggested a high-level meeting involving all stakeholders to address pending matters.
