In Kerala, the e-tendering norm for mining on government land has been relaxed

Abandoned Granite Quarry in Palakkad | Photo credit: File photo

The state government has relaxed the requirement of e-tendering for grant of permission for mining on government land. The move comes as part of the government’s attempt to increase domestic production of quarry products in the wake of neighboring Tamil Nadu’s ban on shipping quarry products to other states.

District Collectors have been empowered to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for government lands which cannot be considered for e-tendering. NOC is required to obtain a mining license from the Ministry of Mines and Geology.

According to the revised guidelines, an applicant who arranges access to government land that is marked for mining, has no road access and is surrounded by private property can get NOC without participating in the e-tendering process. In case of multiple applicants for such land, NOC can be issued only through e-tender.

The NOC should be issued only after charging rent (floor rate – 10 million per annum) and security deposit (10 million per hectare) in proportion to the area of ​​the land.

In February this year, the Commissioner of Land Taxes suggested that NOC be issued for plots that cannot be considered for e-tendering and that rent and security be charged in proportion to the area.

The government in January 2021 framed guidelines for granting NOC to quarries on government land. According to this order, NOCs could be issued only through e-tendering.

In a meeting convened by the Special Secretary Revenue in July, it was found that the e-tendering process under the 2021 order was being conducted only in Thiruvananthapuram district. However, the court stopped further proceedings in this connection. District Collectors also informed that government land is not available in most of the districts for e-tendering as per 2021 guidelines.

Published – 9th November 2026 21:00 IST