New Delhi

Shri Piyush Goyal , Minister of State ( IC) for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy has formally launched the portal for e-auction of 24 coal mines here today . (www.mstcecommerce.com/auctionhome/coalblock) .With this , the registration process has been started and interested bidders with end use plants could visit MSTC website for the purpose. The registration process will be as per KYC norms and will be available on MSTC website.

While speaking on the occasion, Shri Piyush Goyal said that entire auction process will be transparent, efficient and conducted online only. However, 2 documents the Bank Guarantee comprising the bid security and an Undertaking stating that all information submitted is true and correct shall be received in hard copy. The auction process will comprise (i) Techno–commercial bid for qualification and (ii) Financial bid (e-auction) for selection of successful bidder. Only 50% of the qualified bidders from technical stage (subject to a minimum of 5 bidders) will be allowed to participate in the e-auction process.

Mines set aside for iron & steel, cement and CPPs will be auctioned through ‘Ascending Forward Auction’, where qualified bidders will quote incremental bids above the pre-determined floor price. Mines to be allocated for power sector will be auctioned through ‘Descending Reverse Auction’ to minimise impact on power tariffs of end use plants. Last date for receiving technical bids will be January 31, 2015 and list of qualified bidders will be placed on MSTC website on February 12, 2015.

E-auction of coal mines for qualified bidders will be held from February14, 2015 to February 22, 2015.The entire mine allocation process for Schedule II coal mines will be completed by March 23, 2015 with the signing of Coal Mine Development & Production Agreement and the Vesting Order.

The second phase of auction for 32 Schedule III coal mines will commence soon.

Civil Aviation Minister Inaugurates e-office of the Ministry

Minister of Civil Aviation Shri P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju today inaugurated the e-office governance in the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India’s Single Window Clearance to Communication Masts through SACFA – NOCAS Integration.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister highlighted the importance of e-governance and elaborated upon the arrangements made in the Ministry of Civil Aviation under this programme. He particularly highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability through which both efficiency and effectiveness are derived. The salient features of the e-office are as under:

-Single instance has been created for MoCA, BCAS, DGCA, CRS and IGRUA with URL as follows : ca.eoffice.gov.in

-All new files will be generated electronically, for which Training and Hand Holding on e- office has been provided to all users of the Ministry of Civil Aviation including Data Entry Operators/Consultants.

-90 Digital Signature Certificates (DSCs) have been installed and bound with e- office Application out of 137.

-All identified Employee Master Database (EMD) managers/Master Trainer identified by the Department have also been trained on e-office Admn modules.

Shri V. Somasundaran, Secretary, Civil Aviation gave a detailed account of the e-office programme which was followed by a presentation and as part of the live demonstration an active file was forwarded by the Secretary to the Minister which was cleared by the Minister online.

As part of the e-governance implementation, in the offices under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, AAI’s initiative of e-clerance (communication mast) was also launched. Shri S. Raheja, Chairman, AAI gave details of the project and immediately after the presentation, height clearance of one of the active case was granted online. The salient points are as follows:

-Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocation (SACFA) is responsible for Frequency allocation and mast (fixed wireless) clearance to telecom Operators, based on AAI’s No Objection Certificate (NOC).

-The applicants were required to file an additional online application at NOC Application System (NOCAS), AAI for NOC for height clearance.

-Integration of SACFA and NOCAS servers will benefit the Telecom Operators in many ways:

-No duplicate application; Data will be fetched from SACFA server to populate the NOCAS application.

-No document (hard copy) is required by the AAI either from the applicant or SACFA. The system has become paperless.

-NOC letter is sent to SACFA electronically. The individual SACFA application is automatically updated with height clearance data.

-Effective Single Window clearance to Telecom Operators.