Industry bodies welcome ban on sale or export of iron ore from captive mines 

Government has recently imposed a ban on sale or export of
iron ore from captive mines.

The move comes after the Jharkhand government, last year,
allowed one time sale of iron ore fines by Usha Martin and state-run Steel
Authority of India (SAIL), who were given captive mines for consumption in
steel mills. 

The Centre has now invoked Rule 27 (3) of the Mineral
Concession Rules 1960 based upon “a reference received from the state
Government of Jharkhand for imposition of special condition for restricting for
sale of export of iron ore for all mining leases proposed to be
executed/granted, or proposed to be renewed to an applicant who had been given
preference in allotment.” 

All the state govt. have also been asked to take immediate action on the same
to ensure that the special condition has been imposed accordingly.

Industry bodies like FIMI welcome Govt.'s directive for
imposition of ban on sale or export of iron ore from captive mines.

R K Sharma, General Secretary, Federation of Indian Mineral
Industries (FIMI) said, “We hail the decision to impose a ban on sale or
export of iron ore from mines given to firms for captive use. We have been
raising the issue with the Centre as well as the Jharkhand government… It
should not be allowed for any other purpose like export or sale in the open
market, else the same would result in increased production by the allottee for
profit-making”.