Cuttack: A day after finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced dedicated rare earth corridors for Odisha in the Union Budget, deputy chief minister KV Singhdeo on Monday said the state is sitting on a strategic mineral treasure that could power India’s semiconductor and chip-making ambitions.Addressing a press meet in Cuttack, Singhdeo said a stretch along the Odisha coast — from Dhamra to Gopalpur — has been identified as a rare earth-rich zone, capable of boosting production of conductors, semiconductors and chips. “This corridor will significantly enhance Odisha’s revenue and position the state as a key player in high-tech manufacturing,” he said.Singhdeo revealed that a Singapore-based company has already been roped in for the project, underlining growing global interest in Odisha’s critical mineral reserves.Citing a department of atomic energy (DAE) report, Singhdeo said “Odisha has the highest rare earth deposits in India. What makes it exceptional is that these minerals are found barely 1.5 metres below the surface, making extraction commercially viable,” he added.The move aligns with India’s push to secure critical minerals and reduce import dependence. Such rare minerals in state, strengthening its strategic importance in India’s clean energy and electronics supply chain.Explaining the resource profile, he said beach sand minerals in the region contain monazite, a phosphate mineral rich in rare earth elements along with uranium and thorium, besides titanium-bearing minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, etc.
