MSTC ready to provide mineral e-auction services in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The state-owned Metals and Scrap Trading Corporation on Tuesday informed the Odisha government about its preparedness to provide electronic auction for minerals within a week of getting the requisite order.

"We have the expertise to provide e-auction. The PSU is prepared to install the facilities within seven days of getting the requisite order from the state government," chairman-cum-managing director of MSTC, S K Tripathi told reporters here.

Steel and Mines secretary Rajesh Verma, however, said, "Some of the end users have welcomed the state government's proposal of introducing the e-auction service in the mineral trade."

Asked when the facility would be implemented, Verma said, "It is better if we can start it in beginning of the new fiscal in April. We have been working on that line.

"However, the government will take a final decision based on the recommendation of the committee set up for the purpose," he said.

Verma said that the department was keen to introduce e-auction in iron ore, manganese and chromite trade.

Coal India Limited has already introduced e-auction in the coal sector, he said, adding that it would ensure transparency.