Panaji, July 20 (TIWN) The Goa government will pass a legislation to float a state mining corporation during the upcoming session of the state legislative Assembly, and auction mining leases at the earliest, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Tuesday.

Sawant said that his government had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Mineral Exploration Corporation of India -- a Central government agency -- on Monday, which would help explore ore deposits and mining leases in the state, after which auctioning of leases would be held on an expedited basis.     "The Mining Corporation Bill will be passed in the state Assembly in the upcoming session. Once the mining corporation is formed, its rules will be formed on a fast-track basis. Some of the leases in the state will be auctioned through the corporation," Sawant told reporters.  The Monsoon Session of the state Assembly is scheduled to get underway from July 28.