Mineral wealth must fuel UT’s growth, says Union Minister

Union Minister of Coal & Mines G Kishan Reddy, along with the Chief Minister of J&K, on Monday launched the first-ever auction process for limestone mineral blocks in the Union Territory during a dedicated launch event and roadshow held in Jammu.

The initiative marks a major step in implementing the mining reforms introduced under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2015, positioning J&K among the States and UTs adopting a transparent, digital and auction-based framework for mineral allocation.

Seven limestone blocks located in Anantnag, Rajouri and Poonch districts have been offered for auction. Classified under G3 and G4 stages of the United Nations Framework Classification, they cover around 314 hectares and are expected to draw strong industrial interest, particularly in cement and construction.

A spokesperson said, “The auction, being conducted under subsections (4) and (5) of Section 11 of the MMDR Act, represents a major step forward in unlocking the mineral wealth of Jammu & Kashmir, which is now entering the national competitive bidding ecosystem for the first time.”

Reddy termed the launch a transformative milestone and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that mineral development drives employment generation, industrial expansion and long-term socio-economic benefits for local communities.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the initiative would strengthen investor confidence, diversify the region’s industrial base and support employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary congratulated stakeholders and acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the Centre and UT administration.

As part of the roadshow, MECL presented detailed technical and geological assessments, SBI Capital Markets explained the transactional framework, and MSTC demonstrated the e-auction mechanism.

Tender Documents will go on sale from November 28, with a pre-bid conference scheduled for December 12. The last date for purchase of Tender Documents is January 19 and bids must be submitted by January 20 through MSTC’s online platform.