Orissa Minerals Development Company (OMDC) is awaiting approval from the Odisha government to start mining from its Kolha Roida iron ore mine.

It is learnt that the mine is cleared of all litigation and given all approvals, so now it is left to the state government to allow it to start operations. Kolha Roida is one of the six mines held by the company in Odisha.

Although the company was to begin production from the mine in December 2011, it could not do so because of litigations and lack of environmental approval.

Last year, the state government asked the firm to stop lifting ore immediately from Kolha Roida, insisting that it value-add the ore instead of selling it directly to buyers.

Later the company faces some issues on environmental clearances. And when this was resolved, it went into litigation due to conflict of ownership over the mines with one of its sister companies and the Odisha government.

But the Calcutta High Court, on January 23, allowed OMDC to retain possession of the mines and start mining once the state government gave its final approval.

OMDC has over 241 million tonne (mn t) of iron ore and 36 mn t of manganese ore reserves in the six mines, spread over 4365.262 hectare.