Union Minister of Mines Pralhad Joshi has assured the Odisha government of extending full support for realising the Prime Minister's vision of making the nation Atma Nirbhar in mineral production.<br />'' <br />''Union Minister of Mines Pralhad Joshi and the state Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik, jointly inaugurated the production of iron ore in two mines in Odisha today. On the occasion, the Union Minister said that the commencement of production in these mines will help reduce iron ore shortage in the state to a large extent and also in the nation as a whole.<br />''<br />''AIR Correspondent reports 'stating that the two mines will generate Rs 4 to 5 thousand crore of annual revenue for Odisha, the Union Minister Mr. Joshi said that it will als create vast employment opportunities for the locals. In his address, Chief Minister Mr. Pattanaik said that Odisha has the potential to be a global hub in the mines and mineral sector. <br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">He also thanked the Union Minister Mr. Joshi for having responded to the request of the Odisha government within a short span of only 25 days, to reserve the two mines for the Odisha Mining Corporation-a state PSU. The Jiling-Langlota and Guali iron ore blocks, situated in the mineral rich Keonjhar district of Odisha, can now have an annual production target of about 12 million tonnes out of the consolidated iron ore reserve of about 275 million tonnes.</span><br />