Iron ore mining operations have been restarted in Karnataka's Bellary and Chitradurga districts, a year after these were suspended, following a Supreme Court directive. After securing all statutory approvals, two Category A mines have resumed mining, offering hope of regular iron ore supply to the ore-starved steel industry.

According to officials from the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (Fimi), two mining lessees, R Praveen Chandra in Chitradurga and B Kumar Gowda in Bellary, have commenced mining. Nadeem Minerals, which has a mine in Bellary, is likely to restart mining next week. Together, these mines would bring about 1.5 million tonnes (mt) of iron ore to the auction platform in about two weeks.

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Karnataka government to consider and take a decision on the applications for mining leases within a month.

Bhubaneswar The Orissa government’s decision to recover Rs 57,907 crore from 27 mining lessees for extracting minerals in excess of the approved plan has upset the state mining sector. Many in the mining industry and experts have expressed their surprise over the state government’s action.

“The decision is illegal,” said Ashok Parija, former president of Bar Council of India. Parija said the extraction of minerals in excess of mining plan is not illegal, terming the notice served under Section 21(5) of the MMDR Act 1957 and fines imposed as not correct.

PANJIM: The Goa State Pollution Control Board has decided to defer its decision on the renewal of Air and Water consent (consent to operate) of 107 mines, on Thursday pending Supreme Court judgment on mining in Goa.

The GSPCB during the special meeting called to discuss the issue, also passed the order ruling out the argument mooted by 48 mining companies challenging Board’s jurisdiction to hear them over excess iron ore produced by them, as was claimed by Goa Foundation.

PANJIM: Mine owners in the State have told the Supreme Court appointed Centrally Empowered Committee (CEC) that they can be punished if they are guilty but if they are not, they should be allowed to restart legal mines as early as possible.

Various stakeholders including owners of trucks, barges, machinery and mine owners had urged CEC to start mining, during its four day visit, earlier this week. The mine owners who met the three member committee headed by P V Jayakrishnan, twice during their visit made their best attempt to put across the social and economic impact of mining ban on the State.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government owes us Rs 700 crore towards energy bill and I believe the payment will be made to us soon,’’ chairman of Vendanta Resources Anil Agarwal told reporters.

Orissa imposes penalty on ‘errant miners’

ROURKELA: Administration is gearing up for the visit of the Justice M B Shah Commission on illegal mining to Koida mining sector in Sundargarh district for two days, from Thursday.

Scrutinises mineral trade details of other three mines

The Justice M B Shah Commission of enquiry on Thursday sought details on output and raising permission of Tensa iron ore mines belonging to Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) in Koira mining circle during its first day of field trip. During mining lease record verification process, the commission members had found some mismatch between its actual raising area details and map shown on Google Earth.

The chairman of London-headquartered Vedanta Resources, Anil Agarwal, on Wednesday, met Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik and sought his intervention for supply of bauxite to the Lanjigarh alumi