Mumbai, June 18 (IANS) In a major push to transform Maharashtra into a ‘Green Steel Hub’, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday urged the Union Ministry of Coal and Mines to allocate six key iron ore mines in Gadchiroli district to the Maharashtra State Mining Corporation (MSMC). The Chief Minister made this pitch during a high-level meeting with Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy.

CM Fadnavis expressed strong confidence that if these mines are handed over to the state government, they will be made operational within two years, with full-scale production commencing by 2030, eventually driving India forward as a dominant global steel exporter.

He highlighted that Gadchiroli possesses some of the highest-grade iron ore deposits in the country.

Alongside rich limestone reserves and other minerals essential for steel manufacturing, the region is uniquely positioned to become a vital industrial and steel production powerhouse.

“This initiative is projected to attract investments worth Rs 3 lakh crore and create millions of jobs,” the Chief Minister stated.

“With nearby coal mines, abundant water resources, and rapidly developing infrastructure, Gadchiroli offers an exceptionally favourable ecosystem for the steel industry,” he stated.

Furthermore, the decline of Naxalism in Gadchiroli has created a peaceful and highly secure environment conducive to large-scale industrialisation. Capitalising on this turnaround, major players like Tata and JSW Group have already signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the state government, and the process of allocating extensive land parcels to these industries is well underway, noted the CM.

To robustly back this upcoming steel hub, the state has mapped out an integrated logistics network. Plans are in place to connect Gadchiroli directly to major maritime export centres—including Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the upcoming Vadhavan Port—via a dedicated rail and freight network.

Additionally, land has already been reserved for rail infrastructure alongside the iconic Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, said the government release.

Maharashtra currently has more than 40 mineral blocks ready for auction, with processing already initiated for 14 out of 34 major blocks. However, to bypass the logistical delays associated with private auctions, the state intends to leverage its dedicated corporation, said the release.

CM Fadnavis noted that while nearly 500 mines have been auctioned across India, only about 50 are currently operational. The steep premiums commanded during public auctions often render these projects financially unviable for private operators. By transferring these six specific blocks to the state-run MSMC, the government ensures transparent, efficient mineral distribution directly to steel manufacturers, aiming for a targeted production of 50 million tonnes of iron ore by 2030.

The Chief Minister emphasised that Maharashtra’s upcoming integrated steel ecosystem will enable the state to manufacture steel at a production cost lower than that of China. Global and domestic steel giants have already shown intense interest, and thousands of acres of land have been successfully acquired for upcoming facilities in the region.

Drawing a parallel to Odisha’s industrial blueprint, CM Fadnavis requested the clearance of approximately 1,300 hectares of mining area, mirroring the model utilised by the Odisha State Mining Corporation for its bauxite sectors.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy responded positively to the state’s proposals. To mitigate financial losses and eliminate long-standing quality disputes faced by state power generation companies regarding coal quality, Minister Reddy issued immediate directives to implement an automated sample testing system, said the release.

The joint meeting concluded with a comprehensive discussion on addressing technical and operational hurdles within the state’s mining, coal, and energy sectors. The Chief Minister assured that the state government will rapidly take favourable decisions on various requirements raised by the Union Ministry of Coal, Western Coalfields, and Coal India to streamline operations.

–IANS

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