Illegal Ore Mining

The Congress on Wednesday said it would approach the CBI for a probe into late Manohar Parrikar's alleged role as then chief minister in the "illegal" renewal of iron ore mining leases in 2014, which were later quashed by the supreme court in February 2018.

In 2013, the Karnataka government handed over cases of illegal export of iron ore mined from its state to the CBI. Amongst the accused were the powerful Reddy brothers of Ballari, top campaigners for the BJP. The charges pertained to the illegal export of ore worth Rs12,000 crore from 9 ports spread across 4 states.

The Supreme Court today said that mining companies in Odisha operating without environmental clearance will have to pay a 100 per cent penalty to the state on the price of illegally extracted iron and manganese ores with effect from 2000-01.

The current situation is a clear indication that workers would continue to resort to illegal and unjustified activities in further time also, Vedanta said.

Court action against illegal mining has shut the industry in Goa for more than two years, although companies including top miner Vedanta Ltd are starting to get approval to resume work in about a month.

Goa is expected to resume iron ore production by April after action against illegal mining kept the industry shut for over two years. The state has about 8 million tonnes of ore waiting at ports that has not got a buyer due to 30 per cent duty.

The eastern state of Jharkhand, where Tata Steel started mining from the Noamundi mine in 1922, asked the company to stop operations in September pending a renewal of its lease.

Action against illegal mining has sharply cut production of iron ore in the country at a time when international prices have halved, prompting Indian companies such as JSW Steel to import heavily.

After Karnataka and Goa, the Odisha government could be rocked by charges of illegal mining. A report by the Central Committee set up by the Supreme Court has found that 187 iron ore and manganese mines in the state are guilty of a host of violations, including mining in violation of environment and forest laws, and the excess mining of ore.

Sesa is India's top private iron ore mining company with most of its operations in Goa, the biggest iron ore exporting state where no mining has taken place since September 2012 due to action against illegal mining.

India does not plan to restrict exports of iron ore despite curbs on illegal mining, Minister of State for Steel Vishnu Deo Sai said on Monday, adding that there was still enough of the raw material for domestic steelmakers.

India, in its crusade against illegal mining, has over the past few years choked its iron ore output and exports so hard that many companies had to give up on the sector.

The Supreme Court ordered on Friday a temporary closure of some iron ore mines in the top producing Odisha to curb illegal mining, TV channels reported, in a blow to local steel mills that depend on high-quality ore from the state.

The layoff notices were given following the closure of iron ore business of Sesa Sterlite due to a Supreme Court imposed ban on mining in the state.

The Supreme Court on Monday indicated it will pass an interim order on a plea for stopping illegal mining activities in Odisha and the priority before it would be to halt 40 out of 56 iron ore mines operating under deemed-renewed leases.

The Congress on Wednesday said it would approach the CBI for a probe into late Manohar Parrikar's alleged role as then chief minister in the "illegal" renewal of iron ore mining leases in 2014, which were later quashed by the supreme court in February 2018.

In 2013, the Karnataka government handed over cases of illegal export of iron ore mined from its state to the CBI. Amongst the accused were the powerful Reddy brothers of Ballari, top campaigners for the BJP. The charges pertained to the illegal export of ore worth Rs12,000 crore from 9 ports spread across 4 states.

The Supreme Court today said that mining companies in Odisha operating without environmental clearance will have to pay a 100 per cent penalty to the state on the price of illegally extracted iron and manganese ores with effect from 2000-01.

The current situation is a clear indication that workers would continue to resort to illegal and unjustified activities in further time also, Vedanta said.

Court action against illegal mining has shut the industry in Goa for more than two years, although companies including top miner Vedanta Ltd are starting to get approval to resume work in about a month.

Goa is expected to resume iron ore production by April after action against illegal mining kept the industry shut for over two years. The state has about 8 million tonnes of ore waiting at ports that has not got a buyer due to 30 per cent duty.

The eastern state of Jharkhand, where Tata Steel started mining from the Noamundi mine in 1922, asked the company to stop operations in September pending a renewal of its lease.

Action against illegal mining has sharply cut production of iron ore in the country at a time when international prices have halved, prompting Indian companies such as JSW Steel to import heavily.

After Karnataka and Goa, the Odisha government could be rocked by charges of illegal mining. A report by the Central Committee set up by the Supreme Court has found that 187 iron ore and manganese mines in the state are guilty of a host of violations, including mining in violation of environment and forest laws, and the excess mining of ore.

Sesa is India's top private iron ore mining company with most of its operations in Goa, the biggest iron ore exporting state where no mining has taken place since September 2012 due to action against illegal mining.

India does not plan to restrict exports of iron ore despite curbs on illegal mining, Minister of State for Steel Vishnu Deo Sai said on Monday, adding that there was still enough of the raw material for domestic steelmakers.

India, in its crusade against illegal mining, has over the past few years choked its iron ore output and exports so hard that many companies had to give up on the sector.

The Supreme Court ordered on Friday a temporary closure of some iron ore mines in the top producing Odisha to curb illegal mining, TV channels reported, in a blow to local steel mills that depend on high-quality ore from the state.

The layoff notices were given following the closure of iron ore business of Sesa Sterlite due to a Supreme Court imposed ban on mining in the state.

The Supreme Court on Monday indicated it will pass an interim order on a plea for stopping illegal mining activities in Odisha and the priority before it would be to halt 40 out of 56 iron ore mines operating under deemed-renewed leases.