Odisha issues notification for e-auction of 4 mines

Odisha government on Wednesday issued notification for auction of four mines — three limestone and one having manganese deposits.

The notification inviting tender was issued by the Steel and Mines Department for e-auction of mines at Uskalvagau, Kottameta and Garraamora limestone mines and Laserda-Pacheri manganese ore mine.

The mines are located in Maoist affected and tribal dominated Malkangiri, Keonjhar and Nuapada districts.

The last date for purchase of tender documents is December 5 and the last date for submission is December 12 this year, said the notification.

The e-auction process of the mines would be completed in January.

The state government has so far auctioned only one iron ore mine under the amended Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act, 2015.

Essar Steel had bagged the Ghorhaburhani-Sagasahi iron ore block, which was auctioned earlier this year.

Metal Scrap Trade Corporation (MSTC) Limited would facilitate the online auction of mines, department officials said, adding that the government has engaged SBI Capital Markets Ltd (SBI Caps), a fully-owned subsidiary of State Bank of India, as its transaction advisor for the auctioning of mines in the state.

The transaction advisor would recommend the floor price of each mine for auctions, they said.