BHOPAL : MP State Mining Corporation officials are shocked by the multi-fold rise in the bid for sand mining in Budhni of Sehore district, the constituency represented by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan. They said they would undertake examination in the bidding figures.
“We will cross-check the figures available on e-auction process introduced by the department on Friday as the rise is surprising,” Mining Secretary Sheoshekhar Shukla told media persons. Offset price for sand mining was set Rs 2.06 crore for sand to be used in building construction, the department received a bid for Rs 25.87 crore.
The department opened bidding online lines for the first phase for bidding. It auctioned sand mines in 4400 hectare area in 284 groups in 16 districts including Sehore, after first time introducing e-auction. The department officials said the new online auction will ensure full transparency and end monopoly of certain persons in the mining sector in MP.
Shukla said the government had reduced earnest money and increased the area for mining for providing cheaper sand to public. He however said the government cannot control pricing. It is ultimately the market that decides prices in an open economy. Despite that the government tried its best to provide cheaper sand to the public, said the secretary. The mining corporation earned Rs 251 crore through mining. This year, through e-auction, it is expected to mop-up over Rs 1000 crore.
