Punjab CM directs stringent steps for transparent e-auction of 56 mines to be held in first week of July
Chandigarh, June 10 A day after the cancellation of the June 11 e-auction, Punjab Chief Minister on Saturday directed the Department of Mining to take all steps to ensure fair and transparent auction of the 56 mines which will now be conducted in the first week of July. A fresh notification for the e-auction of these mines would be issued next week, with a stringent check list to be provided online for strict compliance by the prospective bidders, according to an official spokesperson. The check list has been formulated keeping in mind all the relevant conditions necessary to ensure impartial, just and fair dealing through the entire auction process, said the spokesperson, adding that the Chief Minister had made it clear that any deviation from norms would be dealt with strictly. The Chief Minister is himself keeping a close watch on the auction related activities, which will be monitored, as in the earlier case, by neutral and independent officials, from the judiciary and other departments. Reiterating his government’s commitment to total transparency in the progressive bidding for the mines, which will further augment the supply of sand and stabilize its prices in the state, the Chief Minister has asked the concerned officials to keep a tight control on the auction process. No laxity in this regard would be tolerated, the Chief Minister has warned, underlining his zero tolerance to corruption and his commitment to completely eliminating the sand mafia from the state. While registering for the participation in e-Auction, the bidder would have to ensure that all the conditions in the tender document are strictly adhered to, said the spokesperson. In view of the fact that the Jun 11 e-auction had to be cancelled due to failure of some bidders to upload the necessary documents/information as required by the tender document, the department has now appealed to be careful in this regard. The bidders have been asked to upload their documents as per requirement of tender document in future. In case of any confusion or doubt, the tender document can be referred to on the website www.investpunjab.gov.in or the prospective bidder may contact the help desk number, the spokesperson said. The department has already initiated the steps for refund of the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of the bidders who had applied for the June 11 auction and the same shall be completed by June 13. —PTC News
