Panaji, Dec 8 (TIWN) The state government is firm on auctioning mining leases in the state to restart the beleaguered mining industry in Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters at the State Secretariat, Sawant also said that the rules related to the process of setting up a state government-operated mining corporation and auctioning had been sent to the state government's Law department for finalisation.  "We have taken 100 per cent steps for (restarting) mining. The rules have been sent to the law department. We are going for auctioning, the government is firm," Sawant said.  Last month, the Goa government had roped in the State Bank of India to facilitate the auction of "six to eight" iron ore mining blocks by December 15.