Lok Sabha Question No. 2087 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Operationalising Auction Mineral Blocks
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Dr. Mohammad Jawed, Dr. Kalyan Vaijinathrao Kale

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2087

ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## OPERATIONALISING AUCTION MINERAL BLOCKS

2087. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED: DR. KALYAN VAIJINATHRAO KALE:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

(a) the reasons for the significant delays in operationalising auctioned mineral blocks considering  that  only  50  out  of  404  auctioned  blocks  since  2015  are  currently operational;

(b) the details of steps being taken by the newly established Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) to expedite the operationalisation of the remaining blocks and its expected role in addressing inter-ministerial and state-level bottlenecks;

(c) the measures proposed to streamline the process of obtaining statutory clearances required for operationalising auctioned mines;

(d) whether the Government plans to introduce legislative reforms to simplify approvals and if so, the details thereof;

(e)  the  details  of  initiatives  being  implemented  to  increase  investment  in  mineral exploration particularly in Obvious Geological Potential (OGP) areas along with the outcomes achieved so far under the Exploration Licence (EL) regime; and

(f)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  revive  the  Post-Auction  Mining Clearances and Approval Facilitator (PAMCAF) to provide coordinated oversight and faster development of auctioned blocks?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a)  As  on  date,  out  of  457  auctioned,  56  mines  are  operational.  Time  taken  for operationalization  is  dependent  on  obtaining  various  clearances  required  after  the auction of the mining block.

(b) and (c). The newly established Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) supports the Ministry in  expediting  the  operationalization  of  mineral  blocks  by  streamlining  approvals, tracking the progress and handholding of bidders in getting clearances from different agencies. This includes:

- i. Conducting baseline study of all auctioned blocks to assess the current status of clearances.
- ii. Liaising with various Central and State regulatory authorities to facilitate the approval process and maintaining detailed records of pending approvals.

(d) No Sir.

(e)  The Central Government is making significant investment in mineral exploration, particularly in Obvious Geological Potential (OGP) area through Geological Survey of India (GSI) and National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET).

-  GSI  has  enhanced  mineral  exploration  using  advanced  technologies  like National  Aero-Geophysical  Mapping  Programme  (NAGMP),  advanced  Time Domain  Electromagnetic  (TDEM),  Magnetic  Heliborne  Survey,  and  Mineral Prospectively Mapping (MPM) etc., focusing on deep-seated and concealed deposits.
-  Mineral exploration programs have increased from 251 in 2020-21 to 438 in 2024-25,  covering  both  OGP  and  non-OGP  areas.  Since  the  MMDR  Act amendments  in  2015  &  2023,  GSI  has  handed  over  307  resource  bearing G2/G3 reports and 343 Geological Memorandums.
-  The  MMDR  Amendment  Act,  2021  has  made  provision  for  notification  of accredited private exploration agencies to enable them to carry out exploration without prospecting licence and access funding under NMET.
-  As on 28 th  February 2025, the Ministry has sanctioned 430 Mineral Exploration Projects  through  NMET,  out  of  which  238  projects  have  been  successfully completed.
-  Under the Exploration Licence (EL) regime following the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023, GSI has submitted 34 EL Blocks to the Ministry of Mines.

(f)   In light of the newly established PMU, there is no need to revive the Post-Auction Mining Clearances and Approval Facilitator (PAMCAF).

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