By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 30, 2016 : The union mines secretary Balvinder Kumar on Thursday called upon the Odisha government to hasten the mining auction process in the state noting that the state was lagging behind other mineral bearing states in this regard.

He asked the state to put at least 7-8 blocks on auction as early as possible.

“Auction of mines has been delayed in the state. We have requested the state government to put 7-8 blocks on auction as early as possible,” said Balvinder Kumar, secretary Union Ministry of Mines to reporters after meeting state chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi.

The chief secretary has assured him that some blocks will be put up for auction within a month, Kuamr said adding that the state government has cited problems with regard to conversion of mining blocks from G-3 to G-2 level as the reason behind the delay.

Nevertheless, Kumar clarified that no issue was pending with the Centre as far as delay is concerned.

Only one iron ore block in Sundargarh district has been auctioned by the state ever since the new MMDR Act came into force, which is more than a year.

Kumar informed that enhancing aluminium production in the state was also discussed at the meeting. The proposed aluminium park in the state also came up for discussion at the meeting.

The Union Mines secretary said Nalco and the state government will be working out a mechanism to determine the cost of primary aluminium to be supplied to the industries adding that Centre will try to resolve certain issues raised by the state government.