Date | June 16, 2017:

Chhattisgarh is among seven States that had informed the Union Secretary, Mines early this month about 11 mines identified for e-auctioning during the remaining part of year 2017-18, a Ministry of Mines Press release informed.

These include four Bauxite and seven Limestone blocks in Chhattisgarh.

Notably, Union Secretary, Mines, Arun Kumar chaired a meeting of the Coordination- Cum- Empowered Committee (CCEC) of the major mineral producing states in New Delhi early this month.

Representatives from seventeen states were present in the meeting. The discussion mainly focussed on the states’ preparedness for e-auction of mineral blocks for 2017-18.

Kumar while addressing the CCEC meeting asked the States to expedite and monitor the auctions, as recently a large number of leases have elapsed due to the section 10A(2)(c) of the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act 1957, which should now come up for auction route only.

He further said that as a large number of merchant mining leases will come up for auction on March 31, 2020, the States need to prepare their plans in advance latest by September this year and share it with Mines Ministry so that production slack can be met and the supply of essential minerals and iron ore remain smooth.

He said, the auctions conducted so far will fetch Rs 85250 crores to States of which the additional contribution due to auction is Rs 67,501 crores over the licence period of 50 years. Just 4 States constitute 90 % of this takeaway and other states need to expedite their mining auctions.

Meanwhile it may be recalled that the Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) intends to sell iron ore produced from the proposed Aridongri mine in Kanker district of Bastar to steel / sponge iron units at Bhilai, Raipur and Raigarh on priority basis, officials informed.

Efforts are being made to increase the production so that sufficient quantity of iron ore is available for export after meeting the requirements of the expanding home market. Export of iron ore is necessary for earning the much needed foreign exchange, they informed.

The mining at Aridongri will be carried out by opencast mechanized method. The mining equipment required will be dozer, shovel/hydraulic excavator, dumpers, wagon drill. The project area is located near Kachhe village on Dalli-Rajhara Bhanuprat-appur road.

It is also accessible by Dhamtari-Bhanupratappur road. The nearest railway station is Dalli-Rajhara situated about 30 km north from the area. Aridongri area is well connected with District Headquarter Kanker (Uttar Baster) by metalled road. The nearest airport is at Raipur.

Notably, CMDC is seeking environmental clearance for Aridongri iron ore project in 245 hectares of land falling under Bhaupratappur forest division of Kanker district in Bastar.

Notably, CMDC had completed exploration and preparation of geological report for Aridongri and Kabirdham iron ore projects, officials here stated.

Significantly, in the month of May 2015, Chief Minister Raman Singh had stated that minerals extracted in Chhattisgarh should be used for units located in the State on a priority basis. This will boost revenue collections and also increase job opportunities while addressing the 9th meeting of Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Fund Advisory Committee.

The meeting was organised by State Mineral Resources Department in which the Chief Minister was informed about various projects underway to explore minerals in the State.

The Chief Minister had emphasized the decision to undertake mineral prospecting work by Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) in the meeting.

Officials informed that in the 2015-16 fiscal, Bauxite exploration works were being undertaken in Pandariya Tahsil of Kabirdham and Murtunda of Surguja district.

Likewise, Bauxite prospecting is going on in Bamhtara village of Bodla Tehsil of Kabirdham district.

The Bauxite exploration work will be undertaken in Bhursipakri and Mukam of the same Tehsil. Both the projects were sanctioned during the meeting.

It was also informed that for effective management of minerals a web-based e-Governance application ‘Chhattisgarh Integrated Mines and Mineral Management System’ is being developed. This application will be used to receive requests for various relaxations on minerals and timely disposal of applications.

The application will be helpful in providing e-permit, e-transit pass monitoring unified check post and weighing bridges along with checking of illegal mining.

It was also informed that district mineral foundations have been made in those districts where certain minerals are found. These foundations will carry on road construction, health and environment development and the development required at the local level.

The Directorate of Geology & Mining in Chhattisgarh had been the process of carrying out iron ore exploration in the notified areas of Kanker and Narayanpur districts of Bastar division.

The exploration target is for the 12th plan period (2012-17) and is being carried out in Rowghat and 10 other localities, officials stated.

The Chhattisgarh Gover-nment had targetted to carry out survey and mapping for 1,000 square kms of State’s area during 2015-16 for geological exploration during the 12th five year plan ( 2012-17).

The minerals to be explored as Bauxite, Limestone, Iron ore, Coal, Dolomite, Manganese and Granite, officials stated.

Notably, the Chhattisgarh Directorate of Geology & Mining had been engaged in exploration of mineral resources as well as minerals development and regulation work in the State.

(Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/)