Bhubaneswar: In a significant policy overhaul aimed at curbing monopolies and controlling prices, the Odisha government has notified new rules for leasing minor minerals, including sand and stone, replacing the earlier auction-based system with a computerised e-lottery mechanism.
Under the revised framework, mineral leases will now be allotted through an online, transparent e-lottery, a move intended to prevent cartelisation, reduce human intervention, and tighten control over illegal mining networks. Officials said the change is aimed at dismantling entrenched monopolies that had driven up prices in recent years.
Applicants must apply online through the MSTC portal using Form-C, along with a non-refundable application fee of ₹10,000 and an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) equivalent to 10 per cent of the lease value. To prevent proxy ownership and benami arrangements, applicants will also be required to submit an affidavit disclosing family member details.
A district-level technical scrutiny committee will verify applications to ensure eligibility and compliance. The government said the entire process has been fully digitised to enhance transparency and minimise manipulation.
In another first-of-its-kind step, the state has introduced a Maximum Sale Price (MSP) for sand and stone. Leaseholders will be prohibited from selling minerals above government-notified rates, a move expected to provide relief to homebuyers, builders, contractors, and infrastructure agencies affected by inflated prices.
The new rules also allow existing leaseholders, who had earlier secured mines through auctions, to transition to the e-lottery system, subject to fulfillment of prescribed conditions.
Officials said the reforms are expected to stabilise prices, ensure steady supply of construction materials, and restore fairness in the minor minerals market, marking a decisive shift toward regulated and citizen-friendly mineral governance.
-OdishaAge
