The Centre has taken back mineral mines from states, due to non-production, Pralhad Joshi, Union minister for coal and mines, said, adding that the 17 blocks will be put up for auction.
“Big PSUs were sitting with big mines for the past 10, 15, 20 years without any production. While NMDC has done well, there were many PSUs sitting idle with mines, which was a national resource. So, we have decided that if a mine does not start production in five to six years, we will take them back and auction them,” said Joshi.
He said states were approached to