Lok Sabha Question No. 4713 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-30
Subject: Auction of Mines
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: HEMAMALINI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4713 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.3.2017

## Auction of Mines

## 4713.       SHRIMATI HEMA MALINI:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a)  the role of Union Government in auction of mines;
- (b)  whether certain mines are to be auctioned in near future by various States and if so, the details thereof along with the targeted time of such auctions, State/mineral-wise;
- (c)  the revenue likely to be earned therefrom;
- (d)  whether the Union Government proposes to assist such States for smooth auctioning of mines and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  whether some hurdles are being faced in the auction process of mines and if so, the details thereof and the action proposed to be taken to remove the same?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  POWER,  COAL,  NEW  & RENWABLE ENERGY AND MINES (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  to (c): As per the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 and the Rules framed thereunder, the State Governments are empowered to carry out  auction  of  mines/  mineral  block  in  accordance  with  the  prescribed  law.  As  per  the information received from various State Governments, the mines/mineral blocks proposed for e-auction during the remaining part of current year and next financial year are given in the annexure. The time of e-auction of mining blocks and likely revenue to be accrued  through  e-auction  process  to  the  State  Governments  therefrom  is  contingent upon the final bids at the time of the auction.
- (d) & (e): In order to facilitate auctioning of mineral concession, the Government of India through  its  institutions  i.e.  Geological  Survey  of  India,  Mineral  Exploration  Corporation Limited and Indian Bureau of Mines and Central Public Sector Enterprises such as SBI Capital Markets Ltd., MECON Ltd. and MSTC Ltd. etc has provided the assistance to the concerned State Governments which, inter-alia, includes Transaction Advisory Service, Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) survey and e-auction platform. So far 21 mineral  blocks  have  already  been  successfully  auctioned  in  State  of  Andhra  Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,  Jharkhand,  Karnataka,  Odisha,  Rajasthan  and  Madhya  Pradesh  and  the process for e-auction of mines/mineral blocks has been conducted smoothly.

The details of mines to be auctioned in near future :

| Sl.No.   | Name of the State   | Name of mineral (s) to be auctioned             | No of blocks to be auctioned   |
|----------|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| 1.       | Andhra Pradesh      | gold, limestone                                 | 7 blocks                       |
| 2.       | Chhattisgarh        | bauxite                                         | 2 blocks                       |
| 3.       | Gujarat             | limestone                                       | 3 blocks                       |
| 4.       | Jharkhand           | bauxite, iron ore, gold limestone, emerald      | 8 blocks                       |
| 5.       | Karnataka           | Iron Ore                                        | 10 blocks                      |
| 6.       | Madhya Pradesh      | Limestone, graphite                             | 5 blocks                       |
| 7.       | Maharashtra         | Limestone, bauxite, manganese, tungsten, copper | 11 blocks                      |
| 8.       | Odisha              | Iron ore, Bauxite                               | 2 blocks                       |
| 9.       | Rajasthan           | Iron ore, Manganese and limestone               | 11 blocks                      |
| 10.      | Tamil Nadu          | molybdenum, limestone, graphite iron ore        | 12 blocks                      |
| Total    | Total               | Total                                           | 71 blocks                      |

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