By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The financial bidding for 11 mineral blocks in Odisha on Saturday saw tough fight after big players bids aggressively for 2 blocks out of 11 put for race on the first day. Till last reports came in Esseling Mining and Industries Limited of Aditya Birla Group offered highest bid of 106. 6% while Tata at 88%, Rungta 86%,MSPL 85%, JSPL 84%,Arcellor Mittal 80.25% and ESL 80% and auction going on for Kasia Iron Ore-Dolomite Mines spread over 194.19 hectares. The composite block comes under Joda mining circle of State’s mineral rich Keonjhar. Essel Mining and Industries Limited of Aditya Birla Group as the previous lease holder of Kasia block.
Vedanta Group’s ESL for BICO(Nadidih) block, by offering highest bid of 76%. Karnataka based Ramagad Minerals and Mining stood next with 75.6 % , Rungta Mines 75%, AMNS 60.15%,Orissa Metaliks 51.30%, Bhushan Power 30%, Sri Jagannath 27% and auction going on.
Total 123 bids have been received by the State for the 11 mineral deposits. The total blocks include Kasia, Nadidih (Bico), Nadidih (Feegrade), Teherai, Pureibahal, Chandiposhi, Jumka, Dholtapahar, Netrabandha Pahar (West), Gandhalpada and Karlapat.
After auction of these five blocks, the government would initiate second round of auction likely in October during which as many as 5 mineral deposits will be auctioned. These include Pipalmunda, Garamurarh, Uskalvagu, Behera-Bhanjipali dolomite blocks and Naringpanga graphite block.
Further, Sociedade De Fomento Industrial Private Ltd, Vishal LPG Industries and Tarama Apartment Private Ltd are debarred from participating in Nadidih Iron Ore Block (BICO), Nadidih Iron Ore and Manganese Block (FEEGRADE) and Teherai Iron Ore and Manganese Block, respectively.
The state auctioned all the 24 mines in FY21 whose lease got expired. As on date ,19 of the 24 auctioned mines have already started operation and production.These 24 Mines holds Iron Ore 1716.92 mt, Manganese 8.77 mt and Chrome Ore having 104.96 mt, which was worth Rs.4,87,082.55 Crore. Out of 24 Mineral Blocks, 11 are in Keonjhar, 8 in Sundargarh 03 in Jajpur and 1 in Mayurbhanj. Out of the 24 auctioned mines, production also started at 19 of these.
