The Odisha
government has made some relaxation in its executive order that had mandated
reserving of 50% of iron ore produced by the stand alone miners for the local iron
and steel industry. As per the new order, the left out stocks meant for
consumption by local units in a month would be added to the next month’s
earmarked quantity.
In a letter
dated 15th January the special secretary, Steel and mines department Mr
S.K.Popli has given his permission to the director of mines to allow disposal
of maximum 50% of ore raised in any month by the lessee without insisting for disposal of corresponding earmarked 50%
of such raised ore during the month to the local industries subject to the
condition that any left out stock against such earmarked quantity would be carried forward to the next month and added to
the said month’s earmarked quantity.
For example, if
a miner’s monthly average iron ore production is 12 tonne, it has to earmark 50
% i.e 6 million tonne of this for the local industries. However, if the local units buy 5 million
tonnes from their quota in (say) January; then the 1 tone left out stock in
that month would be added to the quota for the next month i.e. February. Thus
the miner has to earmark only 5 tonne for February for the local unit and can
sale remaining 7 tonne in the outside state parties.
Meanwhile, the All
Odisha Steel Federation (AOSF) has opposed the dilution of original decision
taken in December last year. AOSF president P. L. Kandoi has alleged that the
state government has taken this decision favouring the miners.
Reported by Tapan Moharana
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