The Mineral Resources’ department has started the process of the Online Auction of limestone, boulders and other minor minerals. Chief Minister Raman Singh has instructed the department to go in for On-line process for maintaining a total transparency.
Chhattisgarh Government has already issued tender notices for 15 minor minerals’ blocks as per the new Minerals' policy of the Central Government. The officials of the Mineral Resources department said that the auctions of the blocks will be held Online.
The Department officials said that the first of E-auctions will include Raipur, Rajnandgaon, Balodabazar-Bhatapara and Bilaspur districts. The Online auctions will be carried out on for limestone, boulders-stones, ‘gitti’ and bricks' soil. The auction notices have already been issued by the District Collectors on September 19.
The Department officials said that Union Coal Ministry also E-auctions the coal blocks via M.S.T.C's E-Auction portal. The State Government has fixed Rs 5,000 tender fees and the 20 per cent of the Royalty is fixed as the Reserve price. The last date for E-auction is October 17, 2016. The details can be had from the M.S.T.C portal.
The Chhattisgarh State Mineral Resources' Department has taken various concrete steps on the lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Digital India’ Mission and 'Ease of Doing Business'.
The Central Government has taken several measures to make commercial activities a lot simpler and convenient. The Central Government had given top priority to sharing profits from minerals with the respective States. There is transparency in dealings, neutrality in all aspects of minerals' policy.
The Central Government in January 2015 had made several major changes in the Minerals’ Policy Act. As per the Supreme Court order the Union Government had instructed the States to go in for E-auctions of minor minerals also. The Chhattisgarh Government has amended the minor minerals’ policy on March 23, 2016.
Chief Minister Raman Singh who is in-charge of the Mineral Resources Department in a review meeting had instructed the officials to E-auction the minor minerals also. The officers said that Chhattisgarh is the first state in the country to E-auction the non-coal blocks.
Two limestone mines and one gold mine block had been E- auctioned in February this year. The State will earn more than Rs 4700 crore in the next few years. This is the most successful instance of ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in the State. The officers said that people's confidence and trust had increased with these new procedures.
The E-auctions will be for three boulder mines in Rajnandgaon and six limestone and ‘gitti’ mines each in Raipur district. The bidders should register by paying fees of Rs one thousand on MSTC portal. They are entitled to participate in the E-auction of minor minerals for the next one year.