TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The government has stated that ore purchased from e-auction could be either sold domestically or exported, as per requirement. The base price that would be declared by the state is based on the grade of ore and where it is stocked according to a notification issued by Directorate of Mines and Geology.
The e-auction process is likely to start in the first week of February. However, the department said that the grade of ore will be as per the grade given by the lease holder or person claiming the stack ore. In case of unclaimed or seized ore, the grade will be verified by the department through the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) recognized agency.
“The base price shall be as declared by the state. The base price shall be intimated in relation to grade of ore and the place where the ore is stored, i.e. the same grade of ore at different locations may have different base prices,” Director Mines Prasanna Acharya said in the notification.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had earlier said that the state will earn revenue of upto Rs 1500 crore through e-auction of 15 million metric tons of ore.
Acharya said that government reserves the right to entertain higher offer and call upon highest bidder at the auction to match such higher offer in the interest of the Revenue. “In case iron ore remains unsold in the auction, it will be offered in the subsequent e-auction by revising the base price as per the formula for fixation of base price. This process will continue till ore is sold in the bidding process,” he said.
