PANJIM: One million tonnes of iron ore will be e-auctioned in the sixth phase, likely to be held this month-end. The government has also granted freedom to the bidders to transport the auctioned material through trucks outside Goa and warned of criminal action against those creating any hindrance in the transportation process.
Directorate of Mines and Geology in a notification issued has listed one million tonnes of ore, lying at 58 places for e-auction. The ore belongs to the leading mining firms like Chowgule and companies, V M Salgaocar, Fomento and Sesa Goa amongst others. The grade of the ore varies from 45 ferrous content to 60 Fe content.
A senior Mines Department official said, “The department has to e-auction already extracted ore before going for fresh production. As the mining industry is presumed to resume by the coming season in October, the e-auction process has to be completed before that.”
DMG had identified 15 million tonnes of ore for e-auction, of which five million tonnes have been auctioned, fetching revenue of Rs 800 crore. Nearly eight lakh tonnes of ore are being exported to China, the largest global market for the State’s low grade ore.
The first three e-auctions, held on February 17, March 4 and May 12, last year, had received a very good response. Over 15 companies had participated in the process. Thereafter, with the fall in iron ore prices in the international market, the demand for ore reduced during the fourth and fifth e-auction on August 19 and November 6 and 7.
Meanwhile, DMG has said that the successful bidder is at liberty to transport the material outside the State, either through trucks registered with department or trucks from outside the State which need not be registered with State.
“Since the e-auction and subsequent transport of ore outside the State or within the State is carried out pursuant to Supreme Court order, any stoppage, hindrance or blockade by not allowing lifting of ore will be treated as contempt of Court and criminal as well as civil proceedings for damages,” DMG has said.
