Contracts for collection ofroyaltywill be issued through a bidding process and the mines department expects over Rs 550 crore from the auctions. A senior official of the mines and petroleum department said the auctions would be held from second week of September for 74 licences in 17 districts for various minerals.

The auctions will be conducted forroyaltycollection contracts, excess royalty collection,RajasthanState Mineral Exploration Trust, District Mineral Fund Trust, permit and weighing of Minerals. The royalty will be collected from minerals like soapstone, sandstone, marble, silica sand, limestone, quartz, feldspar, bentonite and mica, etc.