FM Sitharaman Launches Biggest Ever Coal Mine Auction Of 141 Mines

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday (3 November) launched the sixth tranche of coal mine auction of the Coal Ministry.

As many as 141 mines pertaining to 11 states were auctioned during the biggest auction undertaken so far, according to a statement by the Coal Ministry.

"133 coal mines were put up for auction in the sixth round of commercial auctions, out of which 71 are new coal mines and 62 coal mines are rolling over from earlier tranches of commercial auctions," the ministry said.

Additionally, 8 coal mines under second attempt of fifth round of commercial auctions were included for which single bids were received in the first attempt, it added.

According to the ministry, mines falling under protected areas, wildlife sanctuaries, critical habitats, having forest cover greater than 40 per cent, heavily built-up area etc. have been excluded.

The block boundaries of some of the coal mines where there was presence of dense habitation, high green cover or critical infrastructure etc. have been modified based on comments received during stakeholder consultations to enhance bidders’ interest and participation in these coal blocksk, the ministry said.

The mines being auctioned are spread across coal/lignite bearing states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Bihar, it added.