The Minister of Steel and Mines, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, inaugurated the office building of Indian Bureau of Mines Bhubaneswar Regional Office in the presence of Minister of Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram; Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas (independent Charge) Shri Dharmendra Pradhan; Minister of State for Steel and Mines, Govt. of Odisha, Shri Prafulla Kumar Mallik; MP, Bhubaneswar, Dr(Prof) Prasanna Patasani; Union Mines Secretary, Shri Balvinder Kumar; the Controller General of Indian Bureau of Mines, Shri Ranjan Kumar Sihna in Bhubaneswar on 7th Jan. 2016.Tomar dedicated the IBM office building to the nation by lighting the traditional lamp and unveiling stone plaque. Shri R.K. Sinha, CG, IBM welcomed the dignitaries who graced the occasion.
Narendra Singhji Tomar, Union Minister of Steel and Mines while inaugurating of the Regional Office Building at Bhubneswar, said that the expectations of the people of Odisha will be well met by IBM now that they have their own permanent establishment at Bhubaneswar. He said, Odisha is identified by its mineral wealth. The IBM must act to curb any illegal activity. Shri Tomar said, the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi is resolved to ensure In this direction, the MMDR is amended to make the allotment process of the mining leases totally transparent. Many State Governments have notified mineral blocks in their respective States for auctioning. The new act has provided that the State Government may allot the mining leases and the Central Government need not interfere in allotment issues.
He further said that CSR is only a small portion of upliftment work while the District Mineral Foundation brought out in the amended MMDR Act, is the key plan for upliftment in the local areas. An estimated Rs.6000 Crores will come into the DMF and the Foundation formed at every District collector level will look into the developmental requirements, proving that the DMF revolutionary step. A great amount of research is still required in the field of mining Shri Tomar elaborated that IBM is doing a lot of research in mining and is publishing many papers and bulletins as an outcome of their activities. IBM ensures that the business of mining be carried out within the legal framework.The Union Minister of Steel and Mines Shri Narendra Singh Tomar presented trophies to the Regional Controllers of Mines of Bhubaneswar and Hyderabad for their outstanding contribution towards creating awareness for the online return submission by the mine operators and mineral traders.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas (Independent Charge) said that the revenue of the state of Odisha is mainly derived from the mining activities. Therefore without a good mining department, there is no revenue regulation into the state of Odisha. He added that, No body must think of breaking the rules but must raise minerals well within the framework of rules and law of the land. IBM must educate the legal framework to the mining fraternity. Shri Pradhan said that the Minister of Mines have brought out the amended MMDR, and there is a great transparency in mining lease allotment. He Thanked Shri Narendra Singh Tomar for giving Odisha people their right to manage their mineral wealth.Shri Jual Oram, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, appreciated the mineral museum which is one of its kind set up at Bhubaneswar IBM.
He Said, the District Mineral Foundation formed by the present government is a great step towards upliftment of the poor and down trodden in their natives. The DMF facilitates the funds raised for the benefit of the poor and affected people within the respective districts which is a commendable step. The IBM, Bhubaneswar is doing a commendable job in creating awareness among the mining fraternity and it can do further more for the benefit of the Odisha community, Shri Jual Oram said.Balvinder Kumar, I.A.S., Union Mines Secretary highlighted the importance of Sustainable Development Framework rolled out at Sukinda Chromite mine of M/s Tata Steel at Sukinda valley of Odisha state. He also informed the gathering that the developments that take place in the mining area are going to be monitored through satellite image and for that MOU is being signed with the ISRO for providing satellite imagery on regular basis. He said, a mobile app is being put in place for facilitating the mining fraternity to communicate the statutory requirements. Indian Bureau of Mines may be fully automated to meet the growing demands and take advantage of advent of technology. IBM must fulfill its role as the interface with the industry, Shri Balvinder Kumar added.