By Anurjay Dhal
BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Government so far till Thursday morning has auctioned as many as 6 Iron Ore Mines blocks under Joda-Koira circle of State’s mineral rich Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts. As many as 21 mines to be auctioned those expiring by March 31, 2020.
Official sources manning the online bidding process , however informed that, so far, out of 6 mines auctioned, Sajjan Jindal led JSW Steel topped the list with 3 major mines including Nuagoan and Ganua blocks of KJS Ahluwalia and Prashant Ahluwalia Brothers and Narayanposhi block of Naman Saraf led Aryan Mining and Trading Corporation Ltd under Joda-Koira circle.
Meanwhile, Serajuddin and Co has so far the only merchant miners, which gave a befitting reply to Big Steel makers and surprised many and finally retained Balda iron ore block in Keonjhar.
Most shocking development during the auction that, Essel Mining and Industries Ltd, a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Group lost to a small time Kolkata based Mahavir Prasad Agarwal led Shyam Group. The EMIL held Jilling-Langalota Iron Ore Block in Odisha’s Keonjhar will be now under control of Shyam Ore.
Laxmi Mittal led ArcelorMittal India Pvt Ltd had won Thakurani iron ore block- from Ahluwalia brothers in Keonjhar.
In the ongoing bidding, the most suffered mine owners were Ahluwalia Brothers as they lost control over 3 major mines of Nuagaon, Ganua and Thakurani. It may be mentioned here that, the same Ahluwalia Brothers with B Prabhakaran of Thriveni Earth Movers were playing their cards. With Ahluwalia Brothers are losing the ground in Joda-Koira circle, it would also hit B Prabhakaran’s mining contract business, sources said.
“What we were indicating that Miners should Bid aggressively to retain their mines, now after Serajuddin and Co retained Balda mines, this may be a game changer for other miners like Rungta Mines Ltd and miners should come forward to retain their mines. And it was a very bold step by Serajuddin and Co,” said an Industry expert in Bhubaneswar.
Sources said, RML also may have planning for aggressive bidding to retain their mines. RML has major mines under Joda-Koira mining circle of Odisha’s Keonjhar and Sundargarh district.
“Since 3 major forts of Ahluwalia Brothers have came out of their hands , they are now fighting for the battle of self-respect to save their empire, the aggressive bidding by Serajuddin and Co might have inspired them to go up to any extent,” said a Joda-Barbil based Industrialist.
