- The committee formed by the State Government to recommended measures for the new policy, has given its report in which the recommendations include :(a)throwing open 18 prospected tracts to prospective entrepreneurs including OMC for grant of mining liase.(b)time-bound exploration programme for the unprospected areas(c)continuance of OMC as agents of the State Government for the unprospected areas and granting of contract/sub-lease to entrepreneurs under OMC for exploitation of the areas.(d)selection criteria for parties for grant of mining lease.(e)grant of trading licence to parties including lessees for purchase of gemstone from all available sources including tenants in a competitive manner.(f)system of assessment of royalty on pre-determined pit's mouth value, etc.6.2The State Government have carefully considered the prevailing policy, the legal framework, recommendations of the Committee, etc. and keeping in view the all Development of gemstone resources in the State are pleased to lay down a new Gemstone Policy, 1998, as described in the following paragraphs.6.3All the gemstone areas can be divided into 3 categories -(a)18 gem-bearing tracts which have been identified and prospected by DMG and OMC under UNDP Project.(b)Remaining 10 attracts identified under UNDP Project where prospecting has started but not completed.(c)Other areas in the State which have not all been prospected so far.6.4Office of the gem-bearing tracts already explored (Presently eighteen), Government would decide the tracts to be given to OMC under Mining lease. The balance tracts would be dereserved and thrown open for grant of mining lease to private parties.6.5As indicated at Para-6.3 (b), Prospecting of 10 gemstone bearing tracts identified under the UNDP Project has been started and is expected to be completed shortly. The Director, Geology/OMC will be instructed to complete the prospecting work expeditiously. After prospecting is completed, these 10 tracts would be thrown open for grant as at para-6.4. Till that time, OMC would continue to be the agent.6.6The 3rd category is the areas which have not been prospected so far as indicated at para 6.3. (c). OMC may continue as an Agent of the State Govt, under Rule 75 (2) of MC Rules, 1960 till prospecting is completed over those areas. The areas not at all identified and prospected so far are located in Bolangir, Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Kalahandi, Nawapara, Phulbani, Koraput and other districts. The Director, Geology will chalk out a time frame within which the prospecting of these areas will be completed along with OMC. As soon as the prospecting is completed, it will be thrown open for grant of ML as at para-6.4.
