Govt calls off auction of 3 critical mineral blocks

New Delhi: The government has scrapped the auction of three critical mineral blocks, including a lithium mine in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), under the third tranche of sale of mines due to a lower-than-required number of bidders. The auction is a part of the government’s push towards cleaner alternatives and self-reliance in critical mineral supplies.

The three blocks are Salal-Haimna Lithium, Titanium and Bauxite (Aluminous Laterite) Block in Jammu and Kashmir, Muskaniya-Gareriatola-Barwari Potash block in Jharkhand and Kurunjakulam Graphite block in Tamil Nadu. The auction was annulled as the “required number of bids as per the mineral auction rules have not been received”, according to Mines Ministry.