 "Odisha government is set to auction four mines")
The Odisha government on Monday said it would issue a notification for organising an e-auction to sell off four mines within a period of two to three days.
"We would issue notification for the auction of four mines in two-three days. Once the notification is issued, the bidders would be invited to participate in the e-auction process," said the Steel and Mines Minister, Prafulla Mallick.
He said three limestone mines and one manganese mine located in Rayagada, Nuapada and Malkangiri districts would be auctioned, adding that the reserve and bidding price of these mines have been decided.
The state government has managed to auction the Ghorhaburhani-Sagasahi iron ore block so far under the amended Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Act, 2015.
Essar Steel bagged the first iron ore block offered for e-auction in March this year, upstaging strong contenders like Tata Steel, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd and JSW Steel.
Recently, the Centre had asked the state government to expedite the auctioning process as Odisha is lagging behind other mineral bearing states that have a better record of selling off their mines.