199 mines can be auctioned: Narendra Singh Tomar, minies & steel minister.

Government recently said it has identified 199 mines containing minerals such as iron ore, bauxite and manganese ore that can be allocated through the auction route and the process would be started soon.

'According to our preliminary estimates, 199 mines can be auctioned. We have already started working out the modalities for auctions,' mines and steel minister Narendra Singh Tomar said.

'A lot of homework will be done. Our intention is to start auctioning as soon as possible,' he said after a meeting with the mines ministers of states on the mines and minerals (Development and Regulation) (Amendment) ordinance, 2015.

The 199 mines, which can be auctioned, are located in the mineral-rich states such as Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat and Maharashtra and contain minerals such as iron ore, bauxite, limestone and manganese ore, he said.


ET