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Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday called upon mine lessees and industrialists to increase iron ore production in Odisha, citing the state’s rapid industrialisation and rising national demand for the mineral.

Chairing a high-level meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan with senior officials, mine operators, and industry leaders, the Chief Minister stressed that the government would extend all possible support to boost output. He highlighted the need to focus on both production and timely dispatch, urging stakeholders to exceed the minimum mandatory limits set under the MDPA (Mine Development and Production Agreement) as per requirement.

“Industrialisation is rapidly expanding across the state, driving up demand for iron ore. We must scale up production to match this growth,” Majhi said.

The Chief Minister further noted that several mining-rich districts in Odisha still have very few industries. He appealed to industrialists to establish manufacturing units in these areas to promote balanced regional development. He also directed industry leaders to pay special attention to the basic needs and welfare of local residents living near mining and industrial zones.

To facilitate smoother operations, the state government is preparing a comprehensive database detailing land available for Compensatory Afforestation across different districts. This will help mine lessees and industries easily identify suitable land for the mandatory plantation requirements. Additionally, an annual auction calendar for 2026-27 has been finalised to accelerate the mine auction process, he informed.

The Chief Minister assured that all necessary facilities and infrastructure support would be provided by the government to enable higher iron ore production.

Chairman of the Indian Steel Association Naveen Jindal, thanked the Chief Minister for his sincere commitment and proactive approach towards industrial growth in Odisha.

The meeting was also attended by Tata Steel CEO & MD T V Narendran, Indian Steel Association Secretary General Alok Sahay, JSW Chairman Anil Kumar Singh, AMNS India Director Alok Kumar Meheta, OMC Chairman Girish S N, Managing Director Sudhanshu Samal, and other key industry representatives. Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Development Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary to CM Shashwat Mishra, Additional Chief Secretary of Industries Hemant Sharma, and other senior officials were also present.