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.

The Union Ministry of Rural Development has sanctioned two projects worth Rs 21.5 crore, under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, for Karnataka.

Both projects are aimed at empowering rural women and will be implemented through NGOs, with active involvement of the state government. The State Genetic Resources Ecology and Nutrition Foundation (Green Foundation) has been selected for implementation of the project in Chitradurga and Ramanagara districts. The project, with an estimated cost of Rs 6.5 crore, is expected to benefit around 5,000 women.

It emphasises growing less water-intensive crops, fodder during low rainfall and soil testing

The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) has come up with a contingency crop plan for southern Karnataka to tackle drought. UAS Vice-Chancellor Dr K Narayana Gowda said the contingency crop plan submitted to the State government lays stress on growing alternative crops and cultivating choices that are in tune with rainfall and soil fertility in the region. “The focus of the plan is on south interior Karnataka as the region accounts for a major share of State’s agriculture production. Moreover,

River water to meet drinking water needs of Chikkaballapur, Tumkur

The State government on Friday finally gave administrative approval for the Yettinahole project that proposes to draw water from the Yettinahole River in Sakaleshpur to meet the drinking water demands of Chikkaballapur and Tumkur districts and some parts of Bangalore Urban. Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishveshvara Hegde Kageri said the project proposes to harness 24 tmc ft from Yettinahole in Hassan district for the drought-prone regions of the three districts at a cost of Rs 8,323 crore.

Bangalore Eight Karnataka iron ore mines will resume operations by the end of July, possibly adding around 5.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) and easing some supply constraints.

“The reclamation & rehabilitation (R&R) plans of eight mines have been cleared and final approval will be given by the central empowered committee (CEC) today,” HR Srinivasa, director, department of mines & geology, Karnataka, said here on Wednesday.

The Karnataka government is looking to mobilise close to Rs 10,000 crore from the iron ore mining sector which will be transferred to a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to undertake social infrastruct

Iron ore mining may resume by end-August in 14-15 leases in Karnataka’s Bellary region. The mines have a capacity of 4-5 million tonnes per annum.

If all goes as per DULT (Directorate of Urban Land Transport) plan, Bangaloreans will soon have rail facility to different destinations in districts like Mandya, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Tumkur and Bangalore Rural.

A draft report on implementation of commuter rail system (CRS) in Bangalore, submitted by RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Services) limited to DULT recently, proposes to run trains to these destinations with a speed of 70 km to 100 km per hour, apart from providing connectivity to commuters within the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike limits.

The State Forest Department, in a bid to create assets and popularise the concept of sandalwood estates, will take up the exercise of planting around 10 lakh sandalwood saplings in around 10,000 acres of forest land across the State.

Addressing mediapersons here on Friday, Forest Minister C P Yogeeshwara said that 10 places - Kolar, Ramanagara, Bangalore, Mysore, Shimoga, Belgaum, Dharwad, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Tumkur and Bidar - had been identified for planting sandalwood saplings.