Industry Odisha Bureau, Aug 4: In a major move to streamline effective use of minor minerals, the Odisha government has asked all collectors and District Magistrates (DMs) not to issue quarry permits for minor minerals for private projects.
In a letter to the collectors, Steel and Mines Department asked to strictly follow the provisions of the Odisha Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2025 while granting quarry permits for minor minerals.
The Department has clarified that quarry permits can be issued only for Central or State Government and public purpose projects, and not for private projects.
The department also warned that only the mining officer (for non-forest land) and the divisional forest officer (for forest land) are authorised to grant such permits.
The quantity under one permit may cover the project’s sanctioned requirement or an identified phase thereof.
The permit shall remain valid up to two years or the project completion or phase closure, whichever is earlier, extendable to be co-terminus with the project beyond two years after prior approval of the state government, ACS D K Singh Said.
He reiterated that quarry permits of minor mineral under these Rules are granted only for government (central and state) projects. Grant of quarry permits of minor mineral for purposes other than government projects is barred by the statute, he said.
“Further, as per the OMMC Rules, 2016, no authority other than mining officer (for non-forest land) and DFO (for forest land) are competent to grant quarry permit,” he clarified.
The above amendments have been made by the government with the objective of ensuring adequate supply of minor minerals as per statuary schedule of rates to achieve timely completion of infrastructure projects of national and state importance, he pointed out.
“But some irregularities/deviations from these prescribed provisions while granting quarry permit for non-government projects and also discrimination in granting permit to different project proponents executing government projects have come to the notice of the government, which are contrary to the Rule and are not as per the statue and thus totally illegal and arbitrary,” Singh said.
Some unscrupulous elements may also be trying to get quarry permits through these provisions by camouflaging themselves as project proponents of government and public projects. Such people are to be dealt with heavy hand and denied quarry permit at the initial stage itself, he added.
The DMs were asked to ensure that quarry permits are granted strictly in accordance with the above provisions in order to ensure continuous supply of minor minerals for all government or public purpose projects in the state so as to achieve their timely completion and also protect government revenue.
“This should be treated as extremely important and scrupulously followed. Any deviation found in this regard will be viewed very seriously and exemplary action including disciplinary proceeding will be taken against the officer concerned,” warned the ACS.
