Odisha Chief Secretary PK Jena said the State has earned Rs 50,000 crore
revenue from the mining sector in the financial year 2021-22.
Addressing the 77th annual technical meeting of Indian Institute of
Metals and National Metallurgist Award ceremony in Bhubaneswar, Jena said the
mining sector has changed the financial situation of the State as revenue from
the industrial activity increased ten-fold from just Rs 4,900 crore in the
2016-17 fiscal.
“Revenue from the mining sector was about Rs 4,900 crore in 2016-17. In
2021-22, it grew to almost Rs 50,000 crore. This is an almost ten-fold increase
in five years,” Jena said, while highlighting the contribution of the mining
sector to the State’s economy.
He said Odisha recognises the importance of metals and metallurgical
infrastructure and is committed to supporting the sector.
“Be it the development of new technology or collaboration with research
and scientific institutions, we are here to support you,” he told the
gathering.
The chief secretary said the State also recognises the need for the metal
industry to transform itself to remain sustainable.
Be it green metal, sustainable mining practices, efficient processes or
recycling waste, there should be a minimum adverse impact on the planet, he
said.
Satish Pai, IIM president and Hindalco MD said the industry needs “metamorphosis”
and the theme of this year’s conference ‘Sustainable transformations in metal
industries’ – is a clarion call to enable the metal industry operate in an
environmentally responsible manner.
In the three-day event, which began on Wednesday, 60 prominent national
and international speakers will address multiple sessions, while nearly 700
technical paper presentations will take place.
Over 1,300 participants, including senior officials from the government,
PSUs, metal industries, prominent corporate houses and research institutions
from across the globe are attending the conference.
Union Minister of State for Steel and Rural Development Faggan Singh
Kulaste attended the awards ceremony as the chief guest, while Ministry of
Steel Secretary Nagendra Nath Sinha addressed the award session.
Five categories of awards, including lifetime achievement, national
metallurgist, award for R&D in iron and steel sector, young metallurgist in
metal science, and young metallurgist in environmental science, were presented
to experts in the field of metallurgy.
Ajit Kumar Mohanty, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and
Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, is scheduled to address the
dignitaries on Thursday.
PTI
