Karnataka Iron Ore Mining

The Supreme Court on Friday permitted mining firms to export their excavated iron ore from mines in the districts of Ballari, Chitradurga, and Tumakuru in Karnataka.

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 apex court also rejected the prayer of Vedanta Group for referring the matter to the High Court for adjudication.

Following a court imposed ban of more than two years in Karnataka, Sesa restarted mining in the state in December last year, before being asked to stop again in August.

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.

Mining curbs in India in states such as Goa and Karnataka along with mine closures in top producing Odisha have limited iron ore availability in the country, opening the door to more imports this year, which could help absorb some of the surplus in global supply.

The miner expects its total iron ore output at 9.29 million tonnes in the current fiscal year to March 2015, Aniruddha Joshi, a vice president at Sesa Sterlite that operates in Goa and neighbouring Karnataka, told Reuters in an interview.

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.

A panel led by Justice M.B. Shah had asked the ministry to consider the restrictions to ensure that future generations are "not required to import iron ore" and to crack down on illegal mining, after recommending the same steps for Karnataka and Goa.

India already levies a 30 per cent tax on exports of iron ore fines and lumps since December 2011. Along with mining and export curbs in key producing states Karnataka and Goa aimed at addressing illegal mining, the tariffs have helped cut India's iron ore exports by around 85 per cent, or 100 million tonnes, over the past two years.

The ban, imposed in 2012 to clamp down on illegal mining following a similar step in Karnataka in 2011, has cut India's iron ore exports by about 85 per cent, or 100 million tonnes, over the past two years.

Bans on iron ore mining and exports in top producing states of Karnataka and Goa have choked the industry so hard that MMTC is one of many firms exiting. Even if efforts to fully lift the bans make it past the many bureaucratic and legal hurdles, iron ore miners do not expect complete resumption of production until late 2014.

Vedanta, controlled by metals tycoon Anil Agarwal, has been hurt by the ban on iron ore mining in Karnataka and Goa over the last few quarters.

Ban on iron ore mining in Goa and Karnataka is not only hurting the economy but has rendered as many as one lakh people jobless, Vedanta Resources chief Anil Agarwal said today.

The Karnataka government decided to hand over illegal iron ore mining cases, barring exports which would be probed by CBI, to Lokayukta police.

The Supreme Court on Friday permitted mining firms to export their excavated iron ore from mines in the districts of Ballari, Chitradurga, and Tumakuru in Karnataka.

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 apex court also rejected the prayer of Vedanta Group for referring the matter to the High Court for adjudication.

Following a court imposed ban of more than two years in Karnataka, Sesa restarted mining in the state in December last year, before being asked to stop again in August.

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.

Mining curbs in India in states such as Goa and Karnataka along with mine closures in top producing Odisha have limited iron ore availability in the country, opening the door to more imports this year, which could help absorb some of the surplus in global supply.

The miner expects its total iron ore output at 9.29 million tonnes in the current fiscal year to March 2015, Aniruddha Joshi, a vice president at Sesa Sterlite that operates in Goa and neighbouring Karnataka, told Reuters in an interview.

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.

A panel led by Justice M.B. Shah had asked the ministry to consider the restrictions to ensure that future generations are "not required to import iron ore" and to crack down on illegal mining, after recommending the same steps for Karnataka and Goa.

India already levies a 30 per cent tax on exports of iron ore fines and lumps since December 2011. Along with mining and export curbs in key producing states Karnataka and Goa aimed at addressing illegal mining, the tariffs have helped cut India's iron ore exports by around 85 per cent, or 100 million tonnes, over the past two years.

The ban, imposed in 2012 to clamp down on illegal mining following a similar step in Karnataka in 2011, has cut India's iron ore exports by about 85 per cent, or 100 million tonnes, over the past two years.

Bans on iron ore mining and exports in top producing states of Karnataka and Goa have choked the industry so hard that MMTC is one of many firms exiting. Even if efforts to fully lift the bans make it past the many bureaucratic and legal hurdles, iron ore miners do not expect complete resumption of production until late 2014.

Vedanta, controlled by metals tycoon Anil Agarwal, has been hurt by the ban on iron ore mining in Karnataka and Goa over the last few quarters.

Ban on iron ore mining in Goa and Karnataka is not only hurting the economy but has rendered as many as one lakh people jobless, Vedanta Resources chief Anil Agarwal said today.

The Karnataka government decided to hand over illegal iron ore mining cases, barring exports which would be probed by CBI, to Lokayukta police.