THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MINES ( DR. DASARI NARAYANA RAO )
(a): Mining Leases are granted by the State Governments as per provisions of Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 and Rules made thereunder. Only for a select number of minerals specified in the first schedule of the said Act, prior approval of the Central Govt. is required before grant of the mineral concessions by the State Governments. As per the information available in Indian Minerals Year Book, 2003, published by Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) which is a subordinate office under Ministry of Mines, the total area granted to the private sector in mining lease in India is 411155.68 hectares as on 31.3.2001. As informed by IBM, a total of 131 mining leases for major minerals with a total mining area of about 31,111 hectares have been granted to the private companies in the State of Orissa as on 1.12.2004. Since while granting mining leases the quantity of the mineral is not specified, the mineral-wise and district-wise distribution alongwith years of grant of mining lease in the State of Orissa is shown in the following table:-
Sl.No Name of the major mineral(no. of leases) Districts Years of grant of mining lease
1. Fireclay (9) Angul,Cuttack, Sundergarh 1970,1974,1979,1980,1981,1984,1988 and 1996
2 Graphite (7) Baragarh, Bolangir, Kandhamal 1976,1983,1985,1986,1996 and 1997
3. Gemstone (4) Bolangir, Kalahandi 2000 and 2001
4. Limestone(1) Bolangir 1996
5. Limestone & Dolomite(10) Sundergarh 1980,1986, 1996, 1997, 1985, 1991, 2000
6. Quartz (15) Bolangir, Boudh, Kalahandi, Subarnpur, Rayagada 1971,1981,1982,1983,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1991, and 2000
7 Chromite(12) Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Keonjhar 1960,1985,1993,1997,1998,1999,2000 and 2001
8. Quartzite (4) Jharsuguda, Mayurbhanj 1983,1999,2000 and 2002
9. Iron and Manganese Ore (7) Keonjhar, Sundergarh 1978,1980, 1982,1984,1985,1994 and 2003
10. Iron Ore(20) Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sundergarh 1962,1966, 1969,1971,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985, 1989,1994,1997,2001
11. Iron Ore and Dolomite (1) Keonjhar 2002
12. Manganese (27) Keonjhar, Rayagada, Sundergarh 1960, 1963, 1964, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001
13. Pyrrophyllite and Quartzite (2) Keonjhar 1984 and 1996
14. Tin Ore (1) Malkangiri 1997
15. Chinaclay (2) Mayurbhanj 1974,1996
16. Buaxite (3) Rayagada, Sundergarh 1976,1980 and 1997
17. Iron Ore and Bauxite (1) Sundergarh 1983
18. Managanese Ore and Bauxite (1) Sundergarh 1960
19. Sandstone (2) Sundergarh 2000
20. Coa1(1) Sambalpur 2003
21 Dolomite (1) Sundergarh 1997
(b): The terms and conditions of the mining leases are governed by the provisions of Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 1988, other applicable Acts and Rules including Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and Environment Notification dated 27.1.1994 as issued and amended by Ministry of Environment and Forests, wherever applicable.
(c): The transfer of mining leases is under the purview of the concerned State Governments and the role of the Ministry of Mines is limited to conveying prior approval in case of atomic minerals only. As per the information received from IBM, M/s Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) have transferred a mining lease for buaxite over 1388.74 hectares in village Baphlimali in Rayagada district in Orissa to M/s Utkal Alumina International Ltd. in the year 2000 only for captive use.
(d): Ministry of Mines do not have any information regarding criteria and policy of Government of Orissa for setting up private industries and lease transferring to private companies.
