In a bid to enhance production, Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (CMDC) has sought forest land diversion of 99.35 hectares of land in the state. The Corporation intends to carry out detailed exploration of more number of bauxite blocks and develop Pathrai Bauxite mines in the state.
The government has confirmed one bauxite block ready for auction.
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The Central Ministry of Mines has been monitoring the process from close quarters; Consensus had it that Mineral Auction Rules be amended so that the auction process becomes more systematic and logical while still retaining checks on the successful bidders.
The Rules were amended last year on November 30. The new rules allow the states the flexibility to allocate a certain mineral block in the 2nd round unlike earlier when flexibility was allowed only in the 4th round.
Further, the new Mineral Auction Rules allow miners to dispose of 25 per cent of the ore dumps not otherwise used for captive purposes, thereby facilitating zero waste mining and optimal utilisation of minerals.
Chhattisgarh accounts for 5 per cent of India’s estimated bauxite reserves of 593 million metric tonnes. The state is home to high quality metallurgical grade bauxite, a characteristic of the eastern coast.
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