Shimla: MoU signed for e-auction of mining leases

Shimla: Industries Minister Harsh Vardhan Chauhan today said that the state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Metal Scrap Trade Corporation Limited (MSTC), a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Steel, to facilitate e-auction services for mining leases and composite licences in Himachal Pradesh. The MoU was signed by Director Industries Rakesh Kumar Prajapati on behalf of the state government and Regional Manager Nitin Anand representing MSTC.
The minister said that the state government is going to auction two large blocks of limestone in Arki tehsil of Solan district and Sunni tehsil of Shimla district. The limestone obtained from these blocks is of high quality, highly valuable for use in cement, steel, glass and fertilizer industries. He stressed that the MoU has been signed to ensure a transparent auction process. He further informed that auction of these mineral mines will not only increase the revenue of the state but will also create employment opportunities for the local people.