India's Supreme Court has extended an iron-ore mining ban to two new districts in the southern state of Karnataka, a lawyer involved in the matter said Friday.
Panindra Rao, a lawyer representing the mining industry, said a court-appointed body found prima facie evidence of environmental degradation in the districts of Tumkur and Chitradurg.
Earlier, the court imposed a mining ban in the state's Bellary district, a key iron-ore hub that has 148 mines, of which 98 are located in forest areas.
Karnataka produces around 45 million-50 million tons of iron-ore annually, of which it used to export around 20 million to 25 million tons until the state brought a halt to shipments last July to check illegal mining.
Noting that there is a stock of 25 million tonnes of iron ore, the court on Friday sought to know the monthly requirements of the local steel industry so that it can give orders for release of such quantity as well as the modalities for sale and transportation of such stock.
The court has sought a joint report on the domestic requirements from the steel industry, the state government and the Centre by September 2, when the matter would be heard again.
On September 2, the CEC has to submit to the court the name of the government agency that would be in charge of keeping the accounts of sale proceeds of iron ore and royalty from mining
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