Centre Pressures Jharkhand to Auction Mineral Blocks Amid Delays

The Ministry of Mines has urged the Jharkhand government to auction 10 mineral blocks, including a gold mine, or risk the Centre taking over the process. Jharkhand lags behind other states in auctioning mineral blocks, utilizing only 5 out of 38 geological reports. Timely auction of these blocks could attract significant investment.

The Ministry of Mines has issued an ultimatum to the Jharkhand government, urging it to put 10 mineral blocks, including a gold mine, up for sale or face the Centre stepping in to manage the auction process.

According to sources, the mineral blocks are at the G2 and G3 exploration stages, comprising one copper mine, one limestone mine, and one graphite mine. The Centre amended mining rules in 2021, allowing it to conduct auctions if state governments fail to do so within a mutually agreed timeline.

Sources noted that Jharkhand has lagged behind other states in auctioning mineral blocks. Out of the 38 geological reports handed over by the Geological Survey of India, only five have been utilized for auctions so far. Despite an assurance to notify 15 blocks by December 2021, the state has only notified four, leaving 11 blocks pending.