Thursday, April 28,
Despite several efforts by the government for years to curb illegal mining, iron ore is still being mined and transported without valid permits.*
Illegal export of iron ore from Karnataka has reached 30.68 million tonnes over a period of seven years. As against the permits issued for export of 46.84 million tonnes during the seven-year period, the state has exported 77.53 million tonnes of iron ore.
If the figures of illegal mining keep rising, the resources will get exhausted in a much shorter period, said The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), appointed by the Supreme Court to investigate into the illegal mining activities.
Leading Industry body such as ASSOCHAM has asked the Karnataka government to undertake a detailed review of iron ore mining leases. It also lays emphasis on making the mining sector organized.
According to ASSOCHAM’s Secretary General D S Rawat “Absence of iron ore supply would be a death blow to the steel industry which is already grappling with numerous other problems.”
So, Government should ensure effective implementation of rules and regulations as stipulated and keep a close look on individual mining agreement and contracts rather than closing mines and implementing a blanket ban.
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