Rajasthan Government Committed to Operationalizing Auctioned Mines: CM Bhajanlal Sharma

State Aims to Bring 10 Major Mineral Mines into Operation in Next 3–4 Months

Jaipur – The Rajasthan government is taking proactive steps to operationalize auctioned mines, with Chief Minister Shri Bhajanlal Sharma emphasizing expedited coordination and necessary clearances. Addressing a joint platform of stakeholders and officials at the RIC on Wednesday, Principal Secretary for Mines, Geology, and Petroleum Shri T. Ravikant stated that Rajasthan, a national leader in mineral auctions, is now set to lead in operationalizing these mines.

Shri Ravikant announced that nearly 10 major mineral mines could begin operations within the next 3 to 4 months, following the timely completion of required approvals. He urged stakeholders to submit their applications at designated locations without delay so that clearances can be granted promptly.

The meeting brought together departments such as Mines, Forest and Environment, SEIAA, GSI, IBM, and various private stakeholders on a shared platform. Shri Ravikant emphasized that the early operation of auctioned mines is a top priority for the state, and the Chief Minister is consistently stressing inter-departmental cooperation to facilitate investment, employment, and revenue growth in Rajasthan’s mining sector.

Since 2016, when the auction-based allocation system was introduced, only five mines have become operational. The state government is now determined to prioritize and commence operations in 10 new mines in the coming months.

He also requested SEIAA to provide a standardized checklist so that stakeholders can submit documents accordingly. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all required approvals should also be made available. He proposed providing stakeholders with a list of empaneled consultants approved by the Central Government for pre-environmental clearance studies and suggested orientation sessions for both stakeholders and consultants.

Nodal Officer from the Forest Department Shri Arun Prasad and SEIAA Member Secretary Shri Vijay N. agreed to provide detailed information and the required checklist. SEC member Shri Rajeev Mahnot offered valuable suggestions as well.

Chandresh Bohra, Regional Controller of the Indian Bureau of Mines, informed that the process of approving submitted mining plans has been accelerated and approvals will be issued soon.

Director of Mines Shri Deepak Tanwar reiterated that the state government has launched a focused campaign to operationalize auctioned mines, and this workshop aimed to expedite pending processes. He added that the workshop was intended to bring all stakeholders and departments onto a single platform for faster execution.

Representatives from over a dozen companies including Ambuja, Dalmia, JK Lakshmi, Nuvoco, and JSW Cement appreciated the government’s initiative and assured that they would promptly complete any pending formalities on their part.

Additional Director Shri Mahesh Mathur, SME Vigilance Officer Shri Pratap Meena, and SG Shri Sanjay Saxena presented updates on pending cases. The workshop was attended by Joint Secretary (Mines) Smt. Ashu Chaudhary, Additional Directors Shri M.P. Meena and Shri Alok Jain (Geology), SME Shri N.S. Shaktawat, Shri Bheem Singh, OSD Shri Shrikrishna Sharma, and SG Secretariat Shri Sunil Verma, among others from concerned departments and stakeholder organizations.