Odisha puts two limestone blocks for e-auction

The Odisha government has put two more mines (limestone) on the block in accordance with the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2015.
The mines which are placed for the online auction are Garramura Limestone Block in Nuapada district and Khatkurbahal Lomestone Block in Sundergarh district.
The state government put the two limestone blocks for the auction after issuing notification for online auction of Ghoraburahani-Sagasahi East iron ore block of Sundargarh district in December 2015.
"So far we have put three mines, one iron ore and two limestone blocks on online auction for the purpose of grant of mining licence," Director of Mines Deepak Mohanty told PTI.

While the Garramura Limestone Block in Nuapada district has ore reserves of 2.79 million tons, the Khatkurbahal Limestone Block in Sundergarh district has deposits of 9.9 million tons of limestone, Mohanty said adding that the auction process will be completed by end of March this year.
Mohanty said the last date for purchase of tender document, after payment of a tender fee of Rs 5 lakh for each mineral block, on the website of e-auction platform provider is February 5, 2016 and the last date for submission of the bid is February 10, 2016.

While central PSU MSTC is providing the electronic platform for the auction, SBI Capital Markets Ltd (SBICAP), a subsidiary of State Bank of India, has been engaged as the transaction advisor.

Mohanty said eligibility conditions, date and time for participating in the electronic auction are provided in the tender document.
Detailed tender document along with timelines, notification, updates and other details for the e-auction process for the mineral blocks are available in the electronic form only and can be downloaded from the website of MSTC Limited, he said.
Earlier, a committee under the development commissioner had approved 12 iron ore, manganese, limestone and bauxite mines for auction.
The Odisha Space Application Centre (ORSAC) is conducting the differential global positioning system (DGPS) survey to determine boundaries of the mines.
"The DGPS survey of 10 mines has been completed," said an officer.

The state government will soon issue notification for auction of other mineral blocks, Mohanty said.