Union Mines Ministry moots panel for post auction issues of lapsing leases

Goa has the most number of mines (184) headed for expiry. Next to Goa are Karnataka and Goa with 48 and 31 mining leases respectively

The Union mines ministry has batted for a committee to look into the post auction issue of mining leases expiring by March 31, 2020.

The proposed panel will draw officials from the ministry, key mineral rich states of Odisha, Karnataka and Jharkhand and the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM). The committee will be tasked with easing the transition in ownership of the mines and preparing draft guidelines to facilitate the same.

At the recent meeting of the central empowered committee, the ministry flagged concerns on the fate of the lapsing leases. The ministry called for exploration activity on all such