Bhubaneswar: Chairing a high-level meeting with mine leaseholders and industrialists, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi asked them to enhance iron ore production in Odisha amid rising demand.

The meeting focused on scaling up production to support the state’s industrialisation drive and meet the growing national demand for iron ore. The Chief Minister assured necessary support from the state government to facilitate increased output.

Discussions were held on improving production and dispatch while adhering to the minimum mandatory limits under the Mine Development and Production Agreement (MDPA), with scope for increasing these limits as per requirement.
Highlighting mineral-rich districts in the state have relatively fewer industries, the Chief Minister urged industrialists to set up more units in these regions to promote balanced development.

He also assured all required facilities and clearances for boosting iron ore production would be provided by the government. At the same time, he emphasised the need for industries to pay special attention to the basic needs of locals.

To streamline industrial expansion, the state is preparing a database of available land for compensatory afforestation across districts. This will help mine leaseholders and industrialists identify suitable land parcels for compliance and project development.

The government has prepared an annual auction calendar for 2026–27 to expedite the mineral block auction process, officials said.

Naveen Jindal, Chairman of the Indian Steel Association, appreciated the Chief Minister’s commitment and proactive approach towards industrial development in the state.

Top industry leaders such as T. V. Narendran, Alok Sahay, Anil Kumar Singh, Alok Kumar Mehta, and officials from Tata Steel and other firms also attended the meeting.

Senior officials, including Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Development Commissioner Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh, and Industries Department Additional Chief Secretary Hemant Sharma, were also present.