SC lifts ban on 18 Category ‘A’ iron ore mines in Karnataka

03 Sep 2012 Evaluate

Opening up about 5 million tonnes production of iron-ore a year again, the Supreme Court has lifted the ban on iron ore mining from 18 Category ‘A’ mines in Karnataka, the country's second-largest supplier, after a suspension of over a year on environment concerns. However, the court has permitted mining subject to statutory compliance, as the legal clearances in respect of some A category mines would be coming to an end in October.

Citing environmental violations, the apex court in 2011, banned iron ore mining in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts of Karnataka and asked a federal government body to carry out an environmental impact assessment.

In an attempt to boost iron-ore production, the apex court allowed 18 mines to resume iron ore mining in Karnataka, as clamp down on illegal mining combined the nation's capital desire to keep supplies for domestic steel mills, had began to eat into the iron-ore production.

Asia’s third largest economy used to produce about 200 million tonnes a year of iron ore, with exactly half of that being exported. However, the potential increase in output from Karnataka is unlikely to affect flagging global iron ore prices unless the state allows exporters to ship the raw material overseas. Furthermore, the order is unlikely to mean further exports as the steel making ingredient is deficit domestically and with 30 percent export tax and excessive freight rates, not making shipments a feasible option. However, the output from the re-started mines will be in addition to state-run NMDC's 1 million tonnes per month, which was permitted by the Supreme Court for production from August 6, 2011.

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