Odisha starts process for auction of 11 mineral blocks

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has invited tenders for auction of 11 mines including the Kalrapat bauxite mines, said a mines official.

Besides the bauxite mines, the government has listed for auction 7 iron ore blocks, 2 iron ore & manganese blocks, and one iron ore & dolomite block.

While 7 mines in the list are virgin blocks, 4 are the block whose lease periods have expired on March 31, 2020.

It is for the first time since the beginning of the mining auction process, a bauxite block is going to be auctioned.

The mines that have been put on the auction are Kasia Iron Ore & Dolmite, Nadidih Iron Ore Block (BICO), Nadidih Iron Ore & Manganese Block(FEEGRADE), Teherai Iron Ore & Manganese Block, Purheibahal Iron Ore Block, Chandiposhi Iron Ore Block, Jumka Pathirposhi Pahar Iron Ore Block, Dholtapahar Iron Ore Block, Netrabandha Pahar (West) Iron Ore Block and Gandhalpada Iron Ore Block.

As per the notification, the last dates for purchase of tender document and submission of the bid are August 19 and August 24 respectively.

The state government has planned to complete the auction process by September-end, said an official.