Odisha CM reiterates demand for revision of royalty for minerals

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today again demanded before the Centre for revision of royalty for minerals other than coal. Patnaik requested for early action in this regard to benefit Odisha in post Covid scenario.

During a video conferencing with Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi and Union Minister Petroleum, Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan, the Chief Minister said revision of the royalty of minerals has been one of the longstanding issues of Odisha and other State Governments. The royalty revision has been pending since 2017. Also, he pointed out that royalty on coal has been due since September 2017.

The Odisha Chief Minister highlighted that though the Clean Energy Cess has undergone multiple enhancements, there has been no accrual to the State.

Mentioning about disruptions in mineral production and dispatch leading to shortage for end-user industries and price rise, the Chief Minister said the State and Central Public Sector Undertakings can play an important role in maintaining the level of supply of ore to the end user industries at such critical moments. Their strong presence in the Mineral market will ensure smooth supply at reasonable prices. This will help in mitigating the constraints faced by the MSME, Patnaik added.

Patnaik proposed reservation of some of the expired working mineral blocks under provisions of section 17A of the MMDR Act for State PSUs like OMC to ensure uninterrupted supply of ore to the end-user industry.

Among others, Minister of Steel and Mines Prafulla Mallick, the Odisha Chief Secretary, the Union coal secretary, the Development commissioner, the Mines Secretary, the 5T secretary and senior officials were present in the meeting.