India: Odisha Govt Invites Bid For Grant of Nine Iron Ore & Manganese Mining Leases

Odisha govt. yesterday invited bids for grant of 9 more iron and manganese ore mining leases. Few key mines listed in this round include- Netrabandha Pahar , Chandiposhi & Purheibahal.

Under Section 10 (B) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and in accordance with the amended mineral (auction) Rules, 2015. Government of Odisha has identified 9 minerals blocks (7 blocks of Iron Ore, 1 block of Iron Ore and Manganese and 1 blocks of Manganese) for electronic auction. Accordingly, financial bids are invited in digital format only and technical bids are invited both in digital and physical format from eligible bidders.

Last date for the purchase of tender document after payment of a tender fee on the website of e-auction platform provider by Friday, November 29, 2019, and the last date for submission of the bid is Wednesday, December 04, 2019, on or before 12:00 noon (IST).

Prior to this on 14th Oct and 4th Oct, Odisha govt. had invited bids for grant of iron ore and manganese ore mining leases.

Netrabandha Pahar mine was given to Bhushan Power and Steel Limited in 2017, however later in 2018 Odisha HC stalled the progress of this block. Chandiposhi and Pureibahal blocks whose online auctions were kicked off in last fiscal. But auctions of the twin iron ore blocks, both in Sundargarh district, were stalled after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) purportedly backed by Tata Steel's key rival JSW Steel dragged the Odisha government into the Delhi High Court, bitterly opposing the participation of bidders who already occupied more than 10 square km lease area in the state. Acting upon the petition, the court had instructed the Odisha government to put auctions on hold till clarity emerged on the eligibility rules.