Despite a halt on iron ore mining in Karnataka since July last year, the state government has earned a royalty revenue of Rs270 crore, about 62 per cent of the total royalty earnings in the last financial year. With two more months in the current financial year, royalty revenues are likely to go up further.

Mining activity came to a halt in July, when the Supreme Court ordered the closure of mining and transportation of iron ore in Bellary district. Subsequently, on August 26 the apex court also ordered closure of mining in Chitradurga and Tumkur districts.