Mining push: J&K to auction 7 limestone blocks for first time; Centre invokes MMDR route to fast-track rollout
The mines ministry said the auction signals “a shift toward transparency, competitiveness, and sustainable development in the mineral sector,” with the deposits spanning around 314 hectares across Anantnag, Rajouri and Poonch.The blocks fall under the G3 and G4 exploration stages and are estimated to hold limestone suited for cement, construction and industrial use.
G4 denotes reconnaissance through broad surveys, while G3 involves closer-spaced prospecting to identify target locations.The auction will be formally launched on November 24 in Jammu and will be led by coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy.According to the ministry, the exercise will be conducted under subsections (4) and (5) of Section 11 of the MMDR Act, enabling central facilitation where the Union Territory administration has procedural constraints.
The move reflects “cooperative federalism” to speed up reforms, it added.The ministry said the process would remain “transparent, technology-enabled and competitive,” aligned with national environmental standards.The initiative is expected to generate employment, drive industrial expansion and create new revenue streams for local communities, contributing to Jammu & Kashmir’s economic growth and the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
