Team Herald
PANJIM: The State cabinet on Wednesday approved the appointment of Metal Scrap Trade Corporation (MSTC) Limited, a Central government-owned e-commerce service provider, to facilitate the e-auction of iron ore mining leases in the State.
Addressing media persons post-cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that MSTC is a central government public sector undertaking and that they will work in coordination with SBI CAP- the transaction advisory service provider to the State for the auction.
MSTC e-commerce is a PSU under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel. The government had 2015 taken MSTC onboard to conduct e-auction of 15 million metric tons of ore.
Meanwhile, sources informed Herald that the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) will likely auction the first batch of mining leases anytime soon. The tender document is already prepared by the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG).
The Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL) in its final report submitted to the State government, has zeroed upon eight mining leases, located in Bicholim and Sattari talukas for auction. These mines, having approximately 30 million tonnes of ore reserves, were lying non-operational for decades, due for various reasons.
Earlier this month, the government formed a joint working group (JWG) under Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel to resolve administrative and technical issues and ensure inter-departmental coordination for smooth conduct of the auction process.
The mining activities in the State are at a halt since March 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed the second renewals granted to the 88 leases.
During the recently held monsoon session of the State Assembly, the Chief Minister had assured to resume the mining operation within five months, provided the auction takes place and environment clearances (ECs) are obtained.
