Vests all mines with Mysore Minerals to conduct the auction

The Karnataka government has started the process to auction iron-ore mines under Category C by a Supreme Court direction. The combined capacity of all these mines is five million tonnes a year.

To explain to Supreme Court the economic impact of the ban

The Ministry of Mines is expected to soon file an affidavit in the Supreme Court (SC) explaining the need to lift the ban on mining in major iron ore producing states, including Goa and Karnataka.

vice president of Federation of India Mineral Industries (FIMI), said.

As per the SC order, Rehabilitation and Reclamation (R&R) plans have to be approved by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) for resumption of mining. But even in mines where R&R plan has been implemented, things are not moving.

Govt refuses to budge preparing the field for face-off

The tussle between the state government and miners over the recent order on mining stamp duty has hit a new pitch as the former refused to relax the deadline for collection of the levy.

The first part of the report is believed to contain preliminary observations, suggestion and overall findings

Justice M B Shah Commission, inquiring into illegal mining activities across the country, has submitted its first report to the Union mines ministry about mining activities in Odisha Tuesday evening. The content of the 1,500 page-long report is unknown yet, as it will be made public after it is laid in Parliament.

A study group of the mines ministry has recommended significant increases in royalties on production of key minerals, which if approved can lead to 50% increase in royalty collections for mineral r

The Supreme Court had banned mining in Karnataka in July 2011

The crisis seems to be far from over for the mining industry in Karnataka, Goa and Odisha, the three major iron ore producing states in the country. Though some relief came for the industry in Karnataka last year and again in April this year with the Supreme Court allowing partial resumption of mining operations, normalcy in the sector may not return anytime soon.

The Odisha government has agreed to form a committee to look into lease area encroachment by mine lease holders after getting direction from Shah Commission to this effect. The committee is scheduled to start functioning from March 4 and submit its report soon.

Illegal mining enquiry agency, Justice M B Shah Commission on Wednesday had asked the state government to form a committee to demarcate lease areas of different miners after they complained that the maps being referred by the Commission and the state government were not accurate.
"The committee will have seven members including representative from the state government, Shah Commission and Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM)," Shah said.

A six member team of Shah Commission, enquiring into illegal mining activities in Goa and Odisha, arrived here on Tuesday. The commission will hear views of the mine owners during this round of visit to the state.

"We will be hearing the lessees during the visit that will continue for about 3-4 days. Those lessees whose documents were examined during the last visit have been asked to appear before the panel," said U V Singh, additional principal conservator of forests, Karnataka and member of the Commission.

Exports of iron ore are likely to fall further during the next financial year (2013-14) and touch a record low, as Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal ignored the demand for a level field in the freight rates charged on movement of iron ore for domestic use and exports. There is already an export cess of 30 per cent on iron ore as a dampener.

In 2008-09, iron ore exports were at a record 110 million tonnes (mt), which have fallen to just 15 mt in the current financial year till November. The industry estimates that since government policies remain non-conducive, exports next year could be in single digit, maybe a few million tonnes.