States gear up to auction 70 mineral blocks in FY18

Tamil Nadu tops the list with 12 blocks ready to go under the hammer in FY18

Mineral rich states are gearing up to auction 70 mineral blocks in 2017-18. Tamil Nadu tops the list with 12 blocks ready to go under the hammer in the next financial year (FY), followed by Maharashtra that has offered to auction 10 mineral blocks.

Odisha, the largest iron ore producer, has three iron ore blocks to be put to auctions in FY18. Together, these three iron ore blocks have a combined reserve exceeding 200 million tonne.

On February 3, the coordination cum empowered committee of the Union mines ministry will review the auction preparedness by the states. Gold, limestone, iron