Initiates steps to resolve teething problems and procedural delays

The Karnataka government has initiated steps to resolve some of the teething problems and procedural delays coming in the way of smooth transportation of iron ore sold through e-auction by the monitoring committee. It has decided to issue round-the-clock transit permits to NMDC’s mines in Bellary district’s Donimalai. Besides, the government will continue to issue transit permits between 6 am and 10 pm for NMDC’s Kumaraswami mining lease in Bellary district.

Forest department to review progress and survey leases

The Central Empowered Committee has informed the Supreme Court that the reclamation and rehabilitation work has been initiated in as many as five out of 16 in the ‘A’ category of mines in Karnataka. In its latest report submitted to the Supreme Court, it said that the forest department had agreed to provide all help and review the progress, besides the survey of the mining leases.

The recent decision of the Supreme Court capping iron ore production at 30 million tonnes per annum in Karnataka has not deterred iron and steel companies from expanding their capacities. Both the existing and new steel companies have lined up expansion plans as well as set up greenfield plants in the ore-starved Karnataka state.

While newcomers like Arcelor Mittal and Posco are still awaiting allotment of captive mining leases before commencing work on their respective six million tonne per annum greenfield steel plants in the state, existing manufacturers like JSW Steel Ltd, BMM Ispat Ltd and Kalyani Steel have planned expansion.

Even as decks are being cleared for recommencement of iron ore mining in Karnataka, following the clearance from a Supreme Court panel, the Karnataka government has initiated the process of allotting fresh mining lease to Arcelor Mittal India.

Arcelor Mittal has proposed to set up a six million tonne per annum steel plant and a 750-Mw captive power plant at an investment of Rs 30,000 crore in Bellary district. It signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government during the Global Investors’ Meet in June 2010.

Bangalore After a three-year gap, the Karnataka government has initiated the process to recommend new iron ore mining leases, a move that could speed up the launch of large steel projects by ArcelorMittal and Tata Metaliks in the state.

“We have started the process by surveying land in Bellary and studying availability of iron ore deposits,” MN Vidyashankar, principal secretary, department of industries & commerce, Karnataka, told FE. The state government will have to forward lease recommendations for various parties to the Centre, which is the final ratifying authority.

Rampant illegal mining conducted in Sandur taluk of Bellary district has caused an enormous damage to the environment, health of human beings and animals over the last decade, a recent study has revealed.

According to a study conducted by Cerana Foundation, a Hyderabad-based non-government organisation, air pollution had affected crop and milk yields significantly. “Yields of maize, a major crop in this area, dropped to one-third of what it was 10 years ago from 62-74 quintal per hectare 10 years ago to 20-25 quintals per hectare as on day.

New Delhi: The scale of the Karnataka mining scam seems to be getting bigger: the estimates of an expert panel suggest the alleged barons of illicit mining may have cheated the state of Rs 50,000 c

The Supreme Court on Thursday decided to consider the plea for re-opening of 16 iron ore mines in Karnataka, acknowledging the adverse impact on the steel industry due to ban on mining operations.

A three-judge forest bench led by Justice Aftab Alam fixed as August 17 the date for considering the application filed by Karnataka Iron and Steel Manufacturing Association seeking direction to allow opening of 16 mines listed as ‘A’ category of mines having least irregularities by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).

Firms like JSW Steel could face closure if mining does not resume soon

Steel and pig iron companies that depend on iron ore from Karnataka are facing closure due to a severe shortage of the mineral. The state’s steel industry, whose 21-million-tonne (mt) output accounts for 25 per cent of the national production, is operating with just a 45-day supply of iron ore. “If mining does not resume in the state immediately, it would be very difficult for us to keep the plant running,” said Vinod Nowal, director and chief executive officer, JSW Steel.

If you think you are consuming packaged water and thus you are safe, you may be wrong. The report card of the State Health Department on water samples shows that water could be substandard, even if it is stored in a sealed container.

Of the eight packaged drinking water samples analysed by the Public Health Institute of the department of Health and Family Welfare in June, seven (87.5 per cent) were found to be substandard and thus did not meet the prescribed specification of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).