Govt intends to sell 6 mineral blocks in Rajasthan and Odisha next month

20 Dec 2022 CW Team

Six mineral blocks located in the states of Rajasthan and Odisha would be placed up for sale by the government next month.

Three of the six blocks up for auction are limestone blocks, and the other three are bauxite mines.

According to the most recent data from the mines ministry, the three bauxite blocks in Odisha, Ballada, Kutrumali, and Sijimali, as well as the two limestone mines in Garramura and Uskalabgu, are virgin blocks.

Nimana-Duniya limestone block near Kota, Rajasthan, is the last mine to operate.

In the month of November, a notice requesting bids for all six blocks was published.

A total of 216 mineral blocks have been auctioned up until November 30 across 10 states since the MMDR Act, 1957, was amended in 2015.

Last month, three mineral blocks in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh that contained two limestone deposits and one iron ore deposit were successfully auctioned off.

In 2015–16, the government began the process of assigning mining blocks via auctions.

By the end of 2024, the ministry hopes to auction off 500 mines. The Centre wants the mining industry's share of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to rise from the current 2.5 per cent to 5 per cent.

The government has implemented significant changes to open up the mineral sector over the last few years to assure its contribution to fulfilling the aims of national policy.

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