KONARK, Jan 21: The central Ministry of Mines, in collaboration with the Odisha government, hosted the third National Mining Ministers' Conference at Konark in Puri district of Odisha.
The event brought together mining ministers from various states, senior government officials, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for efficient and sustainable mining practices across the country.
Union minister for coal & mines G Kishan Reddy presided over the conference, while Odisha chief minister Mohan Charon Majhi attended the inaugural session as the chief guest. The conference focused on fostering collaboration for safe, eco-friendly, and efficient mining operations.
Key highlights of the event included the release of a report on best practices in mining by various states, the launch of the Mining Tenement System (MTS) module, and the distribution of sanction letters to startups promoting innovative and sustainable mining practices.
Arunachal Pradesh’s minister for geology & mining, Wangki Lowang, and secretary of geology & mining, Audesh Kumar Singh, along with senior officers from the department, participated in the conference. Addressing the gathering, Lowang thanked the union minister for expediting the auctioning of four critical mineral blocks in Arunachal Pradesh.
Lowang highlighted the state’s mineral potential, including graphite, vanadium, coal, limestone, gold, and copper deposits, and sought the Union government’s support in developing the mining sector in Arunachal Pradesh.
The conference served as a platform to strengthen inter-state collaboration and promote innovations in the mining sector while addressing the challenges of sustainability and environmental conservation.