Rajasthan Leads India in Mineral Block Auctions: CM Sharma
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Jaipur, Dec 2 (NationPress) Rajasthan's Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma declared on Monday that Rajasthan is the pioneering state in India regarding the auctioning of mineral blocks.
“In our initial year, we have successfully auctioned 47 significant mineral blocks, eclipsing the former government's total of 34 blocks over a span of five years. Additionally, we have auctioned 426 minor mineral plots this year, compared to 282 plots during the previous administration,” the Chief Minister stated during a review meeting with the Mines and Petroleum Department at his office.
He stressed that mineral resources must be leveraged for public benefit and urged officials to uphold transparency.
The Chief Minister also directed them to formulate an action plan to ensure the prompt activation of the refinery project through engagement with the relevant firm.
He pointed out the recent endorsement of the new Mineral Policy 2024 and M-Sand Policy 2024 by the Cabinet, stating that these policies are designed to foster employment in mining-related sectors, attract industrial investments, create opportunities for local youth, and combat illegal mining.
“The M-Sand policy, in particular, will incentivize the establishment of M-Sand units as a cost-effective alternative to gravel,” the Chief Minister remarked.
He also called upon officials to ensure adherence to regulations in mining operations to thwart illicit practices while advocating for regular auctions of mining leases.
During the meeting, it was noted that the royalty revenue from major minerals surged by ₹270.45 crore, while revenue from non-major minerals increased by ₹199.45 crore until October 2024.
Moreover, the Mines Department accrued over ₹1,012 crore from the auction of mineral gravel plots in 2024-25, none of which were auctioned during the prior administration.
Revenue from the e-auction of minor mineral plots reached ₹396 crore, and ₹4,957 crore was utilized from the DMFT (District Mineral Foundation Trust) fund.
