Though Orissa has 183 million tonnes of chrome ore, constituting 98 per cent of the total chrome deposits in the country, only 3.27 per cent of this, which comes to about 6 million tonne, has been fully explored till date.
To expedite the exploration and exploitation of chrome reserves in the state, the government has granted mining leases to 15 companies including Ferro Alloys Corporation (Facor) and Balasore Alloys.
Of the total chrome reserves in Orissa, Sukinda area in Jajpur district has the lion’s share of 173 million tonne (mt). This includes low grade chrome.
The places in Sukinda where the chrome deposits are found are Kamarda (2 mt), Saruabili (9 mt), Sukrangi (7.5 mt), Kaliapani (25 mt), Bhimatanger (98 mt), Kalarangi (0.5 mt) and Chingudipal and Tailangi (13 mt).
Out of the total deposits found in Sukinda area, 18 million tonne are of inferior quality, says the state steel and mines minister, Raghunath Mohanty said.
The Kamakshyanagar in Dhenkanal district, which adjoins Sukinda valley, has about 4.42 million tonne reserve of chromite in locations like Sandhasar, Tulasiposhi, Haladigunda and Kathapal. The estimated reserves at Kathapal are 2 million tonne.
Mohanty said, the total chromite reserve of the state is estimated at 183 million tonne, out of which 177.42 million tonne occur in Sukinda and Kamakshyanagar area.
Stating that the state government is taking effective steps for checking illegal mining, transportation and trading of chrome ore, the minister said, the government has formulated Orissa Minerals (prevention of theft, smuggling, illegal mining and regulation of possession, storage, trading, and transportation) Rules 2007. Action is being taken against the persons, vehicles involved in this trade. Besides, state level and district level squads have been constituted to prevent smuggling and illegal trade of minerals.
During 2006-07, twelve such cases were detected in Talcher and Jajpur Road mining circle and 23.23 tonne of chrome ore was seized. While 8 vehicles were seized during the year, Rs 375,021 was collected as penalty. Similarly, in 2007-08, 26 such cases were detected and 122.49 tonne of chrome ore was seized. About Rs 4,77,000 was collected as penalty and 4 vehicles were seized. Amount of chrome ore seized increased to 162.7 tonne in 2008-09 and the penalty collected was Rs 1,934,307.
Source: Business Standard
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