Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Odisha government has issued a notice inviting tenders for e-auction of 11 mineral blocks, including seven new blocks, for grant of mining lease where around three companies have been barred from the bidding process after they surrendered the blocks allotted to them earlier.
According to the official reports, out of the 11 blocks offered for auction, seven are iron ore blocks, two iron ore and manganese blocks, one iron ore and dolomite and one bauxite block. Except for Nadidih (BICO) whose lease period expired before March 31, 2020, the six blocks of Purheibahal, Chandiposhi, Jumka Pathriposhi Pahar, Dholtapahar, Netrabandha Pahar (West) and Gandhalpada are greenfield mines.
The report further added that two iron ore and manganese blocks put under the hammer are – Nadidih (Feed grade) and Teherai. The State government has debarred Sociedade De Fomento Industrial Private Limited, Vishal LPG Industries and Tarama Apartment Private Limited from participating in the auction of Nadidih iron ore block (BICO), Nadidih iron ore and manganese block (Feegrade) and Teherai iron ore and manganese block respectively.
The Goa-based Sociedade De Fomento had bagged the Nadidih iron block in the Koira circle of Sundargarh district by paying a 141.25 per cent premium on the sale value of the ore to the State government.
The last date for the purchase of tender documents is August 19, 2021, and the last date for submission of the bid is August 24. The cost of the tender document for each mineral block is Rs 5 lakh.
