Raj to grant base, noble metals mining leases by December

Rajasthan will grant Prospective License-cum-Mining Lease (PL-cum-ML) for four blocks of <g data-gr-id="33">base</g> and noble metals by year-end as it seeks to increase the area <g data-gr-id="28">under mining</g> in a bid to enhance revenue. “State Government is planning to put auction for mining of seven cement blocks covering an area of about 89 <g data-gr-id="29">sq</g> km with proven reserve of about 1,300 million tonnes. At the same time four blocks of base and noble metals covering an area of 56 <g data-gr-id="30">sq</g> km are to be put for grant of PL-cum-ML by end of the year,” Rajasthan Principal Secretary Mines Ashok Singhvi said.

Besides three more blocks, one each for potash, manganese and iron ore are also in the process for grant of PL-cum-ML by way of e-auction, he added. “For minor minerals 400 plots of mineral granite, marble, Quartz and Feldspar along with other minor minerals (used for building purposes) are also likely to be put for auction,” Singhvi said. The state is a leading producer of minerals such as Lead, Zinc, Gypsum, Calcite, Feldspar, Copper, Jasper and Silver among others. <g data-gr-id="31">Mining</g> sector accounts for around 4.4 <g data-gr-id="26">per cent</g> of its GDP.

Besides, the state, which accounts for 9 per cent of India’s total mineral production, is likely to auction 10 lignite blocks in this fiscal as it plans to enhance power generation capacity. Under a policy released last week, Rajasthan aims to increase land under mining from 0.54 per cent to 1.5 per cent, increase revenue from such activities and raise the number of minerals to be mined from 57 to 79.

“In order to increase the number of minerals <g data-gr-id="19">under mining</g> from 57-79 the State Government has allowed several minerals which were earlier reserved for exploitation by public sector only to be explored and mined by private firms also like Potash, Steel grade Dolomite,” Singhvi said.