PANAJI
Gearing up for the next phase of e-auction, the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has initiated a process to carve out potential mineral blocks from nine iron ore mining leases for e-auction.
Since 2023, the State has e-auctioned a total of 12 mineral blocks consisting of 24 mining leases, of which seven blocks have already got Environmental Clearance (EC) while two have commenced fresh operations.
Speaking to 'The Goan', Director of Mines Narayan Gad said that the department is currently working to carve out blocks from the potential mining leases. “At present, we don’t have any mineral block for e-auction. We are working on it,” he said.
“Once we complete the survey of the potential mining leases, we would be in a position to know the exact number of mineral blocks that can be carved out,” Gad explained.
Gad said that the fourth phase of e-auction will take place this year itself.
The 12 mineral blocks auctioned so far are - Cudnem-Cormolem mineral block, Surla Sonshi mineral block, Advalpale-Tivim mineral block, Cudnem mineral block, Tivim-Pirna mineral block, Kalay mining block in Sanguem, Bicholim-Mulgao mining block, Sirigao-Mayem mining block, Monte-de-Sirigao mining block, Curpem-Sulcorna mineral block, Onda Mineral Block and Codli iron ore block.
Steel giant JSW bagged the Cudnem-Cormolem, Surla Sonshi, and Curpem-Sulcorna blocks, while Odisha-based Kai International won the Tivim-Pirna block. The Onda mineral block was awarded to Telangana-based Agarvanshi Steep Corporation. The other seven blocks went to State-based companies like Fomento Resources, Vedanta Limited, Salgaocar Shipping and NS Bandekar.
The ECs have been granted to Fomento Resources Pvt Ltd for its Advalpale-Thivim Mineral block, Monte De Sirigao Mineral block belonging to Rajaram Bandekar Mines Pvt Ltd, Sirigao-Mayem mineral block belonging to Vedanta, Cudnem-Cormolem owned by M/S JSW Steel Limited, Cudem Mineral Block of M/s Vedanta Ltd and Odisha based M/s Kai International Pvt Ltd's Thivim and Pirna mineral block (VIII).
M/s Vedanta Ltd was the first to commence operation at its Bicholim Mineral block, since last year.
