Mining is all set to resume in Haryana following the Supreme Court's clarification that the environmental clearance for mining projects would have to be obtained by the project proponent. Sources in the government said following the clarification, Haryana was all set to issue a notice for auction of its mines. Though a copy of the order was yet to be received, the Department of Mines and Geology had already begun work. A majority of the mines are in Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Ambala, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat and Faridabad (sand)) and Rewari, Palwal, Mahendergarh and Bhiwani for boulder, stone and gravel. The ban on mining had substantially raised the prices of construction material coming from the neighbouring states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Work on a number of government projects, too, had slowed down owing to escalated costs and uvavailability of material. While the price hike was essentially owing to the gap between the demand and supply, the construction material coming from the adjoining states was hiked owing to the huge transportation cost. Sources said once the auction notice was given, the process of making these mines operational would be set in motion. A notice period of 21 days was mandatory under the rules after the publication of the notice. However, though the process will be set in motion, it is unlikely to have an immediate impact on the cost of construction material since the parties which get the mines on lease or on contract will initiate the process of getting individual environment clearances. This will take another eight to nine months, implying that any dip in the rates of construction material can be expected only once the mines are operational.