Rajasthan to conclude e-auction of 3 limestone blocks by January 2016

Rajasthan will soon start the e-auction of three limestone blocks, two in Chittorgarh district and one in Nagaur, and the state plans to conclude the entire process by the end of January next year.

"The entire process of auction of the 3 blocks, scheduled to take place in last week of January 2016, from registration to finalisation of bids will be online," an official statement said today.

Rajasthan claims that it is on the way to become the first state to conclude e-auction of minerals.

On November 10, Gujarat had announced that it is starting the auction of mines by putting up five blocks of limestone -- key ingredient in making cement -- under the hammer, making it the first state to start the process.

Going ahead, Rajasthan plans to continue with the process of e-auction for other minerals as well.

"The notice inviting the tender for grant of mining leases for limestone blocks has been hosted on the websites of MSTC Ltd, Director of Mines & Geology, Rajasthan and the Government of Rajasthan under e-procurement," the statement said.

Interested bidders can participate in the bidding after online purchase of the tender document, it added.

"Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had directed the Mines and Geology Department to operationalise a transparent e-auction process for granting mining leases in order to realise the true economic value of minerals and generate optimum revenue for the State," Rajasthan Principal Secretary Department of Mines and Petroleum Deepak Upreti said.

The bids have been invited under a two-bid system and the bidders will qualify on the basis of pre-qualification net worth criteria and those who provide an adequate initial price offer will be allowed to participate in the second round of financial bidding, the statement said.

Potential bidders will be provided a demonstration of the e-auction process and training for participation by MSTC, a government of India enterprise.

A pre-bid conference will also be held to solicit views of the bidders and also to respond to their queries, it added.

The tender documents have been prepared for e-auction in consultation with PSU MECON based on the provision of the MMDR (Amendment) Act, 2015, Mineral Auction Rules 2015 and the Mineral Policy of the State.

MSTC has been appointed to provide e-auction services and to conduct the whole process. MSTC earlier conducted e-auction for coal blocks, it said.