Mineral blocks: 16 cos in pre-bid meet, 24 earlier

Panaji: Eleven mining and steel companies have placed 11 bids for five mineral blocks which have been put up for auction in the second round. The five mineral blocks are Advalpal-Tivim, Cudnem-Cormolem, Cudnem, Tivim-Pirna, and Surla-Sonshi.
Sixteen companies participated in the pre-bid meeting for the e-auction of the five mining blocks, a drop from the 24 that participated in the earlier meeting ahead of the e-auction of five blocks.
The fall in participation was surprising as the government expected more companies after the export duty on low-grade iron ore was restored to zero from 50%. At the time of the first auction, the earlier duty had prevailed.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that the state government will auction 25 mineral blocks and dumps.
In the budget, Sawant had set a target of Rs 1,000 crore in revenue through the resumption of iron ore mining after auctions. Sawant said the resumption of mining will also generate employment in the state.
Sawant said that already four mining blocks have been auctioned in the state.
“For the financial year 2022-2023, the state government will auction 24 mining blocks and auction dumps which are outside the mining lease area.”