The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on Odisha’s mining sector has shed light on startling operational inefficiencies and significant revenue losses.
The report, covering 2015–2022, highlights the state’s struggles in managing its minor mineral resources and combating illegal mining.
Odisha garnered ₹2968.75 crore from minor minerals during the period under review, making it a vital source of non-tax revenue. However, inefficiencies loom large, with 373 out of 520 mineral sources lying inactive. Meanwhile, ineffective efforts to curb illegal mining resulted in a revenue loss of ₹864.46 crore, the report revealed.
Adding to the state’s challenges, mining leaseholders owe ₹3966 crore in unrealized revenue—a sum accrued over six years and yet to be recovered despite court directives.
The CAG report calls for stricter enforcement measures, including asset attachment, to address these alarming issues.
The findings not only underscore the need for operational reforms but also emphasize the urgency for a revamped enforcement strategy to curb losses and ensure optimum revenue generation.
