States rush to prepare lapsing blocks for auctions after new MCDR rules

The Odisha government has shown readiness to auction the lapsing mineral blocks

Mineral-bearing states are scrambling to prepare blocks lapsing by March 31, 2020 for auctions. The urgency to ready the mineral blocks for auction stems from the recent notification of the Draft Mineral Concession and Development (Amendment) Rules, 2018 by the Government of India.

The MCDR is proposed to be amended to draw the roadmap for exploration so that the blocks can be auctioned before their validity ends. This is being done to ensure that production of key minerals like iron ore, manganese and chromite is not severely impacted due to the expiry of the leases. The Union mines ministry has targeted