The Centre has urged the Karnataka government to expedite the auction of 14 iron ore mines.

Karnataka has set in motion the auction process. The mines cover an area of more than 600 hectares with an estimated ore deposits of over 200 million tonnes (mt).

Review meeting

Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines, on Tuesday held a review of power, renewable energy, coal and mines sector with the State government officials led by the Chief Secretary.

“Karnataka has called for bids for 14 mines; the last date for bid submission is July 28. We have requested the State to speed up the process of auctions,” Goyal told reporters after the meeting. “We have also requested the State government to issue final letter of intent (LoI) within four months from the close of bids i.e. by September 22.”

The State government had to delay the auction process due to issues related to stamp duty. After a recent State Cabinet clearance, amendments to the Stamp Duty Act were made and now the decks are cleared for the auction.

“The State government has assured us that it has put in place robust surveillance infrastructure by developing its own geological mapping and RFID technology for movement of ore. Illegal mining is a thing of the past is what they have told us,” said Goyal.

Power to Bengaluru

Union Minister said at the review meet, energy needs of Bengaluru city was discussed in detail. A number of issues especially the transmission capacity and corridor bottlenecks (inter-state transmission line/intra-state transmission lines) were identified to be taken up on war-footing, Goyal said.

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