Take all steps for fair auction: Amarinder to mining dept

After the cancellation of the mining e-auction slated for June 11, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh has directed the mining department to take all steps to ensure fair and transparent sale of the 56 mines in question.
The fresh bidding will now be conducted in the first week of July.
The mining department yesterday announced cancellation of the June 11 e-auction of 56 sand mines due to failure of some bidders to upload necessary documents.
A fresh notification for the e-auction of these mines would be issued next week, with a stringent check list to be provided online for strict compliance by the prospective bidders, an official spokesperson said today.

The check list has been formulated keeping in mind all the relevant conditions necessary to ensure impartial dealing through the entire auction process, said the spokesperson, adding that the chief minister had made it clear that any deviation from norms would be dealt with strictly.
The chief minister is himself keeping a close watch on the auction related activities, which will be monitored, as in the earlier case, by neutral and independent officials, from the judiciary and other departments.

Reiterating his government's commitment to total transparency in the progressive bidding for the mines, which will further augment the supply of sand and stabilise its prices in the state, he has asked the concerned officials to keep a tight control on the auction process.

No laxity in this regard would be tolerated, the chief minister has warned, underlining his zero tolerance to corruption and his commitment to completely eliminating sand mafia from the state.
While registering for the participation in e-auction, the bidder will have to ensure that all the conditions in the tender document are strictly adhered to, the spokesperson said.
The bidders have been asked to upload their documents as per the requirement of tender document in future.
In case of any confusion or doubt, the tender document can be referred to on the website www.Investpunjab.Gov.In or the prospective bidder may contact the help desk number, the spokesperson said.

The department has already initiated the steps for refund of the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of the bidders who had applied for the June 11 auction and the same shall be completed by June 13.