TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The process for e-auctioning of iron ore stacked at various locations in Goa has begun, with Directorate of Mines and Geology inviting bidders to participate in the auction. Government intends to start the e-auction by beginning of February.
Department has said that approximately 15 million metric tonnes ore is lying unused at jetties, leases, stockyards and beneficiation plants. Department has recently completed re-verification of ore lying at the jetties, which comes to around 4.88 million metric tones.
Of the total 15 million metric tonnes, 11.48 million metric tonnes is legal ore while the balance is illegally stacked by traders and was later confiscated by the Mines department.
Government has made it clear that the bidders registered with the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), under certain procedures and guidelines are allowed to participate.
State will not allow foreign companies to participate in the e-auction.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court appointed three member monitoring panel consisting of Dr U V Singh, Sheikh Naimuddin and Parimal Rai visited all the seven mining jetties that were inspected by the mines department for re-verifiying the iron ore.
The jetties include Vagus (V M Salgaoncar), Amona (Sesa Goa) (North Goa), Bandekar (Shelvan, Kapshe) and two more in South Goa.
The committee also made visits to Geetabla Parulekar mine (Pissurlem, Sattari). The committee members would be leaving Goa today and the end of their five-day visit.
Appointed to monitor the verification of the inventory, e-auction and deposit of sale proceeds in fixed deposits, the committee, has to table its report before Supreme Court on February 15.
The members held a series of meetings with Mines officials and other stake-holders to decide on the e-auction process. The committee is clear that the final decision on e-auction process would be finalized by government.
