While the exact value of the bids could not be ascertained, industry estimates suggest these blocks may fetch tens of thousands of crores of rupees in revenue.
The government officials said the response have been as per expectations and most of the major players from private sector are participating in the auction, which was necessitated after cancellation of earlier coal block awards by the Supreme Court.
Swarup, however, did not reveal the names of the players who participated.
Sources said the bidders include JSPL while a spokesperson for Monnet Ispat confirmed that the company has submitted its technical bid.
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"Auction process will be web cast to maintain transparency," Swarup said after the technical bids were opened today in the presence of bidders.
Coal Minister Piyush Goyal had earlier said that as per conservatives estimates, eastern states which house most pf these mines stand to gain about Rs 7 lakh crore from auction and royalties over the next 30 years.
A maximum number of 16 bids were received for Gare Palma IV/7 block which is in Chhattisgarh and was previously alloted to Sarda Energy & Mineral Ltd.
Twelve bids each were received for Tokisud North block in Jharkhand, Bicharpur mine in Madhya Pradesh and Gare Palma IV/4 in Chhattisgarh. Tokisud North was previously allocated to GVK Power (Govindwal Sahib) while Bicharpur was earlier given to Madhya Pradesh State Mining Corporation.
The tender process for the 23 coal mines under schedule II was started on December 27 last year and "bidders submitted their technical bids on MSTC portal created for the purpose," the government said.
"The electronic bids were decrypted and opened electronically in the presence of bidders. Entire process was displayed on the screen for the bidders. Subsequently, sealed envelopes containing bank guarantee, power of attorney and affidavit were also opened in the presence of bidders," an official statement said.
These bids will be evaluated by a multi-disciplinary technical evaluation committee to shortlist bidders for participation in the electronic auction to be conducted on MSTC portal from February 14, it added.