Centre asks Jharkhand govt to put on sale mineral blocks

16 Jul 2024 CW Team

The mines ministry has informed that the Jharkhand government has been requested to initiate the sale of 10 mineral blocks, which include a gold mine. It has been cautioned that if the state fails to proceed with the sale, the Centre will initiate the auction process. The sources mentioned that these blocks are currently at the G2 (general) and G3 (preliminary) level of exploration. Additionally, it was added by the sources that among these ten blocks, there is one copper mine, one limestone mine, and one graphite mine. According to the sources, in 2021, an amendment was made in the mining rules granting the Centre the authority to auction mineral blocks if a state government does not conduct the auctions within the agreed-upon timeframe. The sources also stated that the Jharkhand government is falling behind other states in the auctioning of mineral blocks. Out of the 38 geological reports provided by the Geological Survey of India to the Jharkhand government, only five have been utilized for auctions so far. The state had committed to notifying 15 blocks for auction by December 2021, but only four of these blocks have been notified as of now. Regarding the remaining 11 mines, it was mentioned that one potash block is critical and will be auctioned by the Centre, while the state has yet to notify the remaining 10 blocks for auction. In the current financial year, twelve mineral blocks have been successfully auctioned, all of which are located in Rajasthan. Companies such as Ambuja Cements Ltd and J K Cement Ltd have secured these blocks through the auction process.

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