The Mines Ministry said on October 2 that two limestone blocks in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district had been successfully auctioned under the central mineral-allocation framework. It described them as the Union Territory's first such mineral-block auctions. The announcement reports completed bidding; it does not establish that mining has begun.
The Koot–Kapran block lies in Koot and Kapran villages of Dooru tehsil. It covers 22.43 hectares, with estimated limestone resources of 4.75 million tonnes. The ministry said exploration had reached the G-4 stage, leaving scope for further detailed investigation.
The second block, Wantrag, covers 5.36 hectares and has estimated resources of 10.853 million tonnes. It has undergone G-3 exploration, including 159 metres of drilling. These are geological resource estimates, rather than a statement of present production.
Jammu and Kashmir had entrusted the auctions to the central ministry. Its release does not name successful bidders, specify premiums or give a production-start date.