In a first, J&K’s Mining Goes for auction

Suhail Khan

Jammu, Nov 24 : The Union Government is spearheading an initiative to position Jammu and Kashmir as a key mineral-producing state, Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, announced on Monday.

According to the Minister, the move is a direct priority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to spur economic growth and generate employment in the region.

Reddy as per Kashmir Convener made the remarks upon his arrival in Jammu to launch the Union Territory’s first-ever e-auction of limestone mineral blocks.

“This e-auction of limestone blocks is a first for Jammu and Kashmir,” Reddy told reporters. “PM Modi and Amit Shah are committed to creating more employment opportunities for the people here and boosting mineral-based industries.”

The Minister as per this newspaper emphasized that the auction follows major reforms in the mining sector instituted after the Supreme Court’s 2014 ruling. He noted that under this reformed system, limestone mining across the country is now conducted through a transparent auction process—a framework adopted by over 95 percent of states.

“It is the vision of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister that Jammu and Kashmir should emerge as a mineral-rich state,” Reddy stated. “The goal is to generate employment and increase mineral activity for the benefit of the people. It is with this vision that the Ministry of Mines has taken this initiative.

The Ministry has identified seven limestone blocks spanning approximately 314 hectares in the districts of Anantnag, Rajouri, and Poonch for the auction. Classified under the UNFC (United Nations Framework Classification) G3 and G4 exploration stages, these deposits have been sufficiently mapped and assessed. The limestone is deemed suitable for cement manufacturing, construction materials, and other industrial uses, with the ministry noting potential for high-quality output.

This auction marks the first of its kind in J&K since the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act was amended in 2015. The Centre is conducting the auction under Sections 11(4) and 11(5) of the Act, which empower the central government to facilitate auctions when a state or Union Territory administration faces procedural limitations, thereby integrating the region into the national competitive bidding system.

The ministry has outlined that the process will be a technology-enabled, transparent e-auction conducted in alignment with national environmental guidelines for sustainable mining.

The government projects that the successful auction of these blocks will unlock significant benefits for the region, including job creation, revenue growth, and industrial expansion. The initiative is also framed as a pivotal step towards the broader national policy objective of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ (Developed India 2047).