Team Herald
PANJIM: In all, 11 mining companies have submitted 24 bids for five iron ore mining blocks, which will go for e-auction next month.
Director of Mines Suresh Shanbhogue informed that the technical bids for the five blocks were opened on Thursday. He said that 11 mining companies, including some Goan firms, have submitted 24 bids.
Shanbhogue said the evaluation of bid documents has commenced. The last date for submission of bid was April 5. “The e-auction process will take place between April 17 and 27. The names of preferred bidders would be announced by April 27,” he said.
In the second phase the blocks put up for e-auction are Advalpale-Tivim Mineral block, Cudnem-Cormolem Mineral block, Cudnem Mineral block and Surla-Sonshi mineral block from Bicholim taluka and Tivim-Pirna Mineral block in Bardez taluka.
Interestingly, three of these blocks- Advalpale-Tivim Mineral Block, Cudnem-Cormolem Mineral Block and Tivim-Pirna Mineral Block do not require Environment Clearances (EC) as the leases are categorized under Section 8B of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act 1957 which speaks about transfer of statutory clearances vested with the previous lessee for a period of two years.
These blocks were operated by erstwhile leaseholders like Lithoferro, Sociade De Fomento Ind Pvt Ltd, Sesa Resources Ltd and Salgaocar Mining Industries.
Total 89.28 million tons of ore reserve is available for extraction while another 56.45 lakh tons of rejects are lying in form of dumps.
In the first phase of e-auction held in December last year, total four leases- Kalay mining block in Sanguem, Bicholim-Mulgao mining block, Shirigao-Mayem mining block and Monte-de-Sirigao mining block in Bicholim taluka were auctioned.