Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel issued Letters of Intent (LoI) to four eligible leaseholders following the auction of minor mineral blocks in the districts of Junagadh, Devbhumi Dwarka, Sabarkantha, and Kutch on Tuesday.

On Entrepreneurship Day, celebrated on Tuesday, LoIs were awarded for the Shepa Limestone and Marl Block and the Varvada Limestone and Marl Block. In the Shepa Limestone and Marl Block, located in Junagadh district, Bharat Quarry Workers were granted a 50-year mining lease.

Additionally, in Devbhumi Dwarka’s Varvada Limestone and Marl Mineral Block, Shri Jessa Ranmal Kandoriya was granted a 50-year LoI. In Sabarkantha’s Harsol Block-1, Ashokkumar Amrutbhai Patel was approved for a 50-year term. Furthermore, in Bhuj’s Nadapa region, Shri Gokul Kanabhai Dangar received an LoI concerning the China Clay mineral quarry lease application.

Meanwhile, the government also announced that it has auctioned 25 major mineral blocks so far, with intent letters issued for 20 of them. Additionally, 2,280 minor mineral blocks have also been successfully auctioned.

As part of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) initiative, the Minor Mineral Rules were amended on 12/10/2022 to allow application-based lease allocation for up to 4 hectares of private land. This provision enables private landowners to easily obtain leases. So far, a total of 188 applications have received prior approval for lease allocation. DeshGujarat