e-tender norm for quarrying on government land relaxed in Keralam

An abandoned granite quarry in Palakkad

The State government has relaxed the requirement of e-tender for granting permission for quarrying on government land. The move comes as part of the government attempt to enhance domestic production of quarry products in the wake of neighbouring Tamil Nadu banning the transportation of quarry products to other States.

District Collectors have been authorised to issue no-objection certificates (NOC) for government land that cannot be considered for e-tender. The NOC is required to obtain a mining licence from the Department of Mining and Geology.

Under the revised guidelines, an applicant who arranges access to government land that is identified for quarrying, lacks road access, and is surrounded by private property can obtain NOC without participating in an e-tender. In case of multiple applicants for such land, NOC can be issued only through e-tender.

The NOC should be issued only after charging lease rent (floor rate – 10 lakh a year) and security deposit (10 lakh a hectare) in proportion to the land area.

The Land Revenue Commissioner had proposed in February this year that NOC be issued for land that could not be considered for e-tender and lease rent and security deposit be charged in proportion to the area.

The government had framed guidelines in January 2021 for granting NOCs to quarries on government land. As per that order, NOCs could be issued only through e-tender.

A meeting convened by the Revenue Special Secretary in July observed that e-tendering as per the 2021 order was done only in Thiruvananthapuram district. However, further proceedings in that connection were stayed by court. The District Collectors also conveyed that in most districts, government land for e-tendering as per the 2021 guidelines was not available.