11 blocks have been handed over to Telangana govt for auction. These blocks consist of 5 iron ore mines, 5 limestone blocks and 1 manganese block

New Delhi: The Union Mines Ministry has flagged that the Telangana government failed to auction any mineral blocks in past nine years and asked the State to put at least six mines on sale by the end of this month. According to sources, geological reports of eleven blocks have been handed over to the government of Telangana for auction. These blocks consist of five iron ore mines, five limestone blocks and one manganese block. Till date not even a single block has been put up for auction by Telangana even though the mines ministry has sent repeated reminders to the state government.

The process of allocating mineral blocks through auctions began in 2015. In a recent letter to the Telangana government, the mines ministry asked the state to notify a minimum of six blocks from the 11 for auction by June 30, sources said. The ministry warned that failure to do so will force the Centre to begin the auction process. As per the amendment in mining rules made in 2021, the Centre has the power to put on sale the mineral blocks in case a state government fails to auction the mines within the mutually agreed period.