The Odisha Government has reinforced its regulations concerning the issuance of quarry permits for minor minerals, instructing district authorities to adhere strictly to the Odisha Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2025. This action follows reports of misuse of the permit system in various regions.
In a directive dated August 3, 2026, Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of the Steel and Mines Department, called on all District Collectors and District Magistrates to ensure that quarry permits are exclusively reserved for government initiatives and projects serving public interests. The communication warns that any deviation from these regulations will lead to thorough scrutiny, with officials found in violation facing disciplinary action.
This move comes in response to allegations that quarry permits were being wrongly issued for private and non-governmental projects. There have also been reports of applicants misrepresenting themselves as agents of government projects to obtain permits. The government has condemned such actions as arbitrary, illegal, and contrary to the amended rules, directing district authorities to dismiss such applications at the outset.
The new guidelines stem from amendments made under the Odisha Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2025, designed to ensure the timely provision of minor minerals for significant infrastructure developments at both national and state levels. According to the revised regulations, the Mining Officer holds the authority to issue permits for non-forest areas, while permits for forest land are managed by the relevant Divisional Forest Officer (DFO).
Additionally, the government has clarified the duration and application scope for these permits. Quarry permits can be granted for the total mineral requirement of an entire project or for a specific phase, with a validity period of up to two years or until the completion of the project phase, whichever comes first. Any requests for extensions beyond two years must be approved by the State Government beforehand.
Reiterating the purpose of the amended rules, the Steel and Mines Department highlighted that these measures aim to ensure a steady supply of minor minerals for public infrastructure projects while safeguarding government revenue. District administrations are urged to rigorously enforce compliance with legal provisions to prevent the misuse of the permit system.
