In post-auction regime, production in new mineral blocks fails to take off

Despite 54 blocks being auctioned, no mining leases have been executed for greenfield blocks

The transparent allocation of mineral resources through auctions after the promulgation of the amended Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 2015, or MMDR, has failed to quicken the pace of production from virgin blocks.

Of the 106 concessions offered for mining licence (ML) and composite licence (PL and ML), only 54 have been actually auctioned, shows data from the Union mines ministry. The figure includes six composite licenses and 48 MLs. The breakdown of MLs reveals 34 greenfield resources and 14 Category-C iron ore mines in Karnataka. None of the greenfield blocks auctioned have been hitherto awarded an ML, emblematic