From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 27: The Siddaramaiah Government has decided to go in for public auction of as many as 15 Category C mines.

The State Cabinet, which met after the sine die adjournment of both houses of the State Legislature on Friday, decided to go ahead with the public auction of mines on the basis of the directions of the Supreme Court.

The decision of the State Cabinet is expected to come as a big relief for the Steel industry, especially the mining sector, which had been hit with a spate of trouble including irregularities as well as litigation and the court stay orders.

The entire public auction process would be completed by March 2016.

The public auction of the mines would be in the Bellary-Chitradurga-Tumkuru belt.

The apex court had directed the State government to re-allocate the iron ore mines to steel industries through a transparent process.

The State Cabinet has also decided to ask the Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL) to assess the quantity and quality of iron ore deposits in 15C category mines in the state.

For this purpose, the State Cabinet has given approval for releasing Rs. 82.35 crore to the MECL.

After obtaining assessment report from the MECL, the State Government will go for the public auctioning of 15C category mines.

There are 51 C category mines in Karnataka, of which 17 mines have already been auctioned by the Government.

The State Cabinet has also approved to give Rs. 100 per tonne as minimum support price for common paddy. Rs. 450 each for Ragi and Jowar.

The Central government has fixed the MSP of Rs. 1410 per quintal paddy. Rs. 1590 for Jowar and Rs. 1650 for Ragi.