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Centre to auction five mineral blocks in Gujarat, Karnataka

The identified blocks will be auctioned along with other blocks

The Central government will auction five mineral blocks in Gujarat and Karnataka having reserves of 667.2 million tonne.

The Central government has asked each state having mineral resources to identify at least five new mining projects for auction with pre-embedded clearance on a pilot basis, with a view to expediting the sale process as well as operationalisation of the blocks.

While the auction of one mineral block in Karnataka will begin on 29 June 2020, the sale of other four mines will commence on 2 July 2020 and last till 8 July 2020.

The notice inviting tender for Kannur (Wadi Area) limestone block in Karnataka was floated in November 2020, while that for four limestone mines in Gujarat was out on 19 March 2020.

The Ministry of Mines had recently released guidelines for the auction of mineral blocks with pre-embedded clearances as it explored ways to address the key issue of delay in mining production due to lack of various approvals such as forest and environment permissions.

The identified blocks will be auctioned along with other blocks without pre-embedded clearances.

Under the guidelines, the Centre has asked states to set up a project monitoring unit (PMU) to complete the preparatory work for obtaining requisite clearances, approvals and related work. The unit will obtain all the clearances for starting a mining project.

So far 97 mining leases have been allocated through auctions since 2015.