Giving information about the achievements of last one year, Minister of Mineral Resources Pradeep Jaiswal has said that there has been a significant increase in mineral revenue with the implementation of new sand policy in the State.
While talking to media persons, Jaiswal said total revenue of Rs 1,400 crore have been received from the tenders of sand auctions in 43 districts alone. Similarly, in the e-auction, the 364 hectare Bunder diamond mine in Chhatarpur district has been given on lease to Aditya Birla Group company Messrs Essel Mining and Industries Limited, Mumbai at 30.05 per cent higher bidding.
The State Government has recently submitted a letter of intent of the Bunder diamond mine to this company. The State Government will get a revenue of Rs 23 thousand 506 crore that is about Rs 600 crore revenue per year from the mine during the entire lease period.
Jaiswal informed that under the new sand rule-2019, tenders were issued for the operation of sand mines for a total of 43 district groups of sand available in the state. Its government reserve price was kept at about Rs 475 crore, against which a total of Rs 1,400 crore will be received in the financial proposals opened for only 36 districts. On successful completion of the auction process of the main mineral, the State is estimated to get about Rs 6,331 crore revenue. Financial proposals of more than 6 times have been received for a few district groups as compared to the fixed offset prize. A financial proposal of Rs 217 crore has been received against Rs 100 crore in offset prize for Hoshangabad district. Under the new policy, tenderers are able to watch the proceedings live online in the sand mines auction.
Prospecting / exploration work of minerals is being done by the Department of Mineral Resources in 8 regions of the state.
In this, the survey / prospecting work of mineral limestone is in progress in Damoh, Dhar and Satna district, mineral bauxite, laterite in Dindori district and laterite in Mandsaur district is in progress. If the mineral storage in these areas is certified, then the auction of mineral blocks will be done by e-auction process as per rules.
MoU has been signed with NMDC, MOIL and MECL for the exploration and prospecting work of available mineral wealth in the State.