Anil Agarwal led Vedanta Resources, which was denied mining rights in Niyamgiri in Orissa, has bid for procurement of five lakh metric tonnes of bauxite from state-owned GMDC, a top official said on Monday in Ahmedabad.

"Representatives of Vedanta have approached us for procurement of non-plant grade bauxite, which can be allocated to them only through a bidding and transfer process," a top GMDC official said.

"The company is amongst the bidders for bauxite available with us for which tenders were floated last month," he said, adding Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC)has close to 9 lakh metric tonnes of bauxite with it for sale this year.

"The tender was opened recently and allotment will now be finalised by an internal committee," GMDC official said.

"Vedanta was eligible to bid for non-plant grade bauxite here, since as per GMDC policy, plant grade bauxite can only be sold for value addition in the state," he said.

The company was recently denied permission by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest for bauxite mining at Niyamgiri in Orissa on environmental grounds.

GMDC has bauxite mines in Kutch district, besides in Mewasa village of Kalyanpur taluka in Jamnagar district.

GMDC has received approval for bauxite mining in Jamnagar district, a GMDC official said.