Raj tops in auction of major mineral blocks

Jaipur: Rajasthan has set a new record in the country by successfully auctioning 32 major mineral blocks in straight seven months. The Mines and Geology Department of Rajasthan has auctioned the major mineral blocks till October of this financial year through the e-portal of the Government of India.

Principal Secretary Mines and Petroleum T Ravikant hsaid that CM Bhajan Lal Sharma’s zero-tolerance policy towards illegal mining and development of major mineral blocks in a planned manner has helped in setting the record. “There is an emphasis on e-auction through e-portal. For the first time in Rajasthan, an auction has been conducted for the mining lease of one of the two gold mines and the composite license of the other. After the new provisions, 419 major mineral blocks have been auctioned across the country so far. Out of this, a maximum of 86 blocks were auctioned in Rajasthan. The Central government is planning to auction critical mineral blocks. There is an emphasis on auctioning blocks of major minerals and states are being encouraged for this,” he said.