By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, October 26, 2016 : The Odisha government on Wednesday issued a notification inviting tenders for auctioning of four mines in the state.

The steel and mines department issued the notification to e-auction three limestone and one manganese mine.

The government invited bids for Uskalvagau, Kottameta and Garraamora limestone mines and Laserda-Pacheri manganese ore mine. The mines are located in Malkangiri, Keonjhar and Nuapada districts.

The last date for purchase of tender documents is December 5 and the last date for submission of bid is December 12 this year, according to the notification.

The e-auction process of the mines is likely to be completed in January.

Till now, the state government has auctioned only Ghorhaburhani-Sagasahi iron ore block under the amended Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act, 2015 which Essar Steel had bagged.

Metal Scrap Trade Corporation (MSTC) Ltd would facilitate the online auction of mines. The government has engaged SBI Capital Markets Ltd (SBI Caps), a fully owned subsidiary of State Bank of India, as its transaction advisor for the auctioning of mines in the state.

The transaction advisor would assist the state government in fixing the floor price for auctions.