Overview
- Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launched the e-auction in Jammu with a roadshow marking J&K’s entry into national competitive bidding.
- Seven limestone blocks totaling about 314 hectares in Anantnag, Rajouri and Poonch are on offer at UNFC G3/G4 exploration stages.
- The auction is being conducted by the Centre under Section 11(4)-(5) of the MMDR Act with a stated focus on transparency, technology-enabled bidding and sustainable mining.
- Sale of tender documents opens November 28, a pre-bid conference is set for December 12, the last date to buy documents is January 19, and bids are due January 20 on the MSTC platform.
- Officials project jobs, revenue and industrial growth for local communities, while the J&K government emphasizes that New Delhi is assisting the process rather than taking over control of the mines.