Minor mineral blocks being auctioned in Raj

Jaipur: Due to the transparent e-auction system of mineral blocks and wide publicity, minor mineral blocks are now also being auctioned at premium rates, an official said. Plot No. 147 Minor Mineral Masonry Stone near Kasti village of Jodhpur has received bid of Rs 2.42 crore against the reserve price of Rs 1.50 lakhs, which is more than 161 times the reserve price.

In the ongoing auction process of Mahendra Mandal plots in the state from December 6, 61 plots of Jodhpur have received bids of Rs 49.26 crore against the overall reserve price of Rs 1.77 crore in separate auctions on the e-platform of GoI.

ACS Mines Dr Subodh Agarwal said that the Mines Department has prepared 630 plots for auction of minor mineral granite, quartz, felspar, sandstone, silica sand, masonry stone, china clay, marble etc. He said that legal mining, direct and indirect employment and investment opportunities have started developing in the state through the large-scale auction of mineral plots.