LOI Holders Should Prioritize Getting Mining Plans Approved: Principal Secretary, Mines — Efforts Intensify to Operationalize Auctioned Mines

Jaipur : The Department of Mines has accelerated its efforts to bring auctioned mines into operation. The Principal Secretary of Mines and Geology, Mr. T. Ravikant, stated that LOI (Letter of Intent) holders of auctioned blocks must prioritize the submission of mining plans. He emphasized the need for the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) to approve submitted mining plans within the stipulated time. He said operationalizing auctioned mineral plots and blocks is a top government priority, and timely submission and approval of mining plans are essential for this.

Mr. Ravikant further noted that Chief Minister Shri Bhajanlal Sharma has consistently emphasized the swift operationalization of auctioned mineral blocks to boost mining activity, employment, investment, and revenue in the state. Under the CM’s leadership, Rajasthan has led the nation in mineral block auctions, and now bringing them into operation is a key governmental focus.

The Principal Secretary was addressing senior officials, including Mines Director Mr. Deepak Tanwar, via video conferencing from the Secretariat on Wednesday. He mentioned that the department has set a new record in the auctioning of major and minor mineral blocks and plots. The next step is to complete the formalities before commencing mining operations. To facilitate this, the department has created a Post-Auction Facilitation Cell, assigning a senior officer to guide and support LOI holders in fulfilling the required formalities.

He stressed that LOI holders who have not yet submitted mining plans must prioritize doing so. He also directed composite license holders to submit their mining schemes and ordered that schemes already submitted be immediately reviewed and approved.

He informed that at the headquarters level, 8 mining schemes are currently under review for approval, 23 LOI holders are in the process of preparing and submitting mining plans to IBM, and 4 mining plans are awaiting approval from IBM.

Mines Director Mr. Deepak Tanwar stated that mining schemes are being examined and approved at the headquarters level, and those LOI holders who have not yet submitted mining plans to IBM will be coordinated with to expedite their submission.

Mr. Tanwar further added that to speed up the operationalization of auctioned mines, SME-level officer Mr. Pratap Meena has been appointed in charge of the Post-Auction Facilitation Cell, with responsibilities for coordination and guidance.

The VC was attended by Additional Director (Headquarters) Mr. Mahesh Mathur, SME (Major) Mr. Bheem Singh, SME (Minor) Mr. Kamleshwar Baregama, Additional Director Geology Mr. Gopalaram, SME Vigilance and Cell In-Charge Mr. Pratap Meena, OSD Mr. Shrikrishna Sharma, and SG Mr. Sunil Kumar Verma, among other senior officials.