Jharkhand to start work on auction of mining leases within a month

KOLKATA: Jharkhand is slated to start work on auction of mining leases within a month. the mineral rich state is also likely to set up the District Mineral Foundation within the same time. This was stated by the state chief minister Raghubar Das. during his meeting with union minister of steel & mines Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday, during which the latter handed over the detailed exploration reports of ten blocks of Jharkhand to the CM.

Prepared as part of Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL)’s promotional, the steel & mines ministry said in a statement. Speaking on the occasion, Tomar said: "The MMDR Act was amended in January 2015 to harness the immense mining potential of mineral rich states like Jharkhand. It is now incumbent on us to expedite the process and realise its benefits."

Earlier this year, Tomar had provided the CM with 14 regional exploration reports, comprising 12 for bauxite and two for gold, and two detailed exploration reports for limestone. Currently equipped with detailed exploration reports for 12 blocks, Jharkhand is in a position to start auctioning Mining Leases for these blocks. As for the regional exploration reports of 14 blocks, the state has an option to either go in for auctioning of leases for carrying out prospecting cum mining lease (PL-cum-ML), or to go in for detailed exploration.