Govt to set up online portal for monitoring mine clearances

Centre and states will create a platform to monitor the status of clearances and approvals of auctioned mines bearing minerals such as gold, iron ore and limestone.

At the first meeting of the inter-ministerial group (IMG) held earlier this month, it was decided that a software should be installed for such online monitoring to expedite post-auction clearances, a senior official said.

"This platform (software) will monitor key activities involved in the clearance and approval process. Besides, the states and departments concerned will update the processing status on the online portal for monitoring and expediting post-auction mining," he added.

According to the minutes of the meeting of Post-Auction Mining Clearances and Approvals Facilitator (PAMCAF), the preferred bidder will also be required to register on the portal so that he/she is able to flag issues and provide updates.

The letter of intent (LoI) for the successfully-completed three auctioned blocks -- two limestone and one gold -- has been issued by the Chhattisgarh government.

The Odisha government said that in the case of the Ghoraburhani-Sagasahi, Sundargarh block (iron ore), LoI in favour of the successful bidder has been issued and the draft mining plan for the area has already been submitted to the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM).

As for Jharkhand, Harihaspura Block I & II (limestone) LoIs has been issued to the successful bidder, which has in turn submitted the Scheme of Prospecting to the IBM.

Till date, nine mineral-producing states have offered 47 mineral blocks for the e-auction, which contain minerals such as iron ore, bauxite, gold and limestone.

So far, only six mines have been auctioned, which will earn Rs 18,146 crore, including revenues and royalty.

Out of the total 47 blocks, auction was deferred for 16 mines due to "insufficient number of applications found at the time of opening of initial bids".

Of this, 5 are in Gujarat, 4 in Maharashtra, 3 in Rajasthan, 2 in Chhattisgarh and 1 each in Odisha and Jharkhand, government data showed.