Bhubaneswar: CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday urged Union coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy to allocate the Sasubohumali bauxite block in Rayagada and Thakurani iron ore block in Keonjhar to state-run Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), a govt statement said.Sasubohumali, a high-grade bauxite deposit with an estimated reserve of around 81 million tonnes, is seen as a key asset for the state’s aluminium and refining sector. The block remains an unallocated strategic reserve under govt oversight while most others have been allocated to industries through auction. The Centre gave Karlapat bauxite block having 207 million tonnes to OMC in March 2015.While several blocks in the Thakurani mining region have been allocated to different private companies, the one Odisha has sought for OMC is a virgin mine not auctioned or explored yet. “These two blocks would be critical for the state to attract industries as govt can promise raw materials of bauxite and iron ore,” a govt official said.During a meeting with Reddy at Lok Seva Bhavan here, 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 2025-26, generating revenue of nearly Rs 46,000 crore, and stressed the need for enhanced Centre-state coordination to accelerate growth.The chief minister also requested expeditious forest and environmental clearances for auctioned mineral blocks. He underlined the need for improved rail and port infrastructure to make mineral transportation more efficient and cost-effective.Majhi further proposed framing a policy for backfilling abandoned coal mines using fly ash from an environmental standpoint and flagged the need for advanced technology in mineral analysis.Reddy said resolving mining sector issues requires coordinated efforts among multiple ministries, including railways, ports, forest and environment. He suggested a high-level meeting involving all stakeholders to address pending matters.
