Mining clearances must be issued within 14 days or escalated automatically

The Principal Secretary of Mines in Odisha has issued a directive requiring tahsildars across all 26 districts to expedite the clearance of mining-related No Objection Certificates (NOCs), setting a strict 14-day processing window for all pending applications. Officials have been instructed to utilize the OMEPS 2.0 portal's built-in escalation mechanism to ensure timely resolution of land-related clearances required for mining operations. Under the new directive, any application that remains pending beyond the two-week deadline will automatically escalate to the district collector for intervention and resolution. The measure aims to reduce administrative bottlenecks in the mining sector and establish a more transparent, time-bound clearance process across the state. The initiative reflects efforts to streamline bureaucratic procedures while maintaining oversight at senior administrative levels to prevent indefinite delays in mining-related approvals.