Karnataka iron ore export ban likely to go

Thursday, Jan 20 2011

The state government had in July 2010 banned the export of iron ore after reports of rampant illegal mining in the mineral-rich Bellary-Hospet region emerged

New Delhi: The iron ore export ban in Karnataka might be lifted soon after the Supreme Court on Thursday gave the state government a two-week deadline to put in place its mechanism to curb illegal mining.
The state government had in July 2010 banned the export of iron ore after reports of rampant illegal mining in the mineral-rich Bellary-Hospet region emerged.
“Let them export under supervision,” said the bench led by Justice R.V Raveendran.
“Stop illegal mining, but you cannot ban exports forever,” the court said to the government’s counsel.
The state government said Lokayukta’s report named several companies who are contesting the ban in court.
MSPL, the largest private mining company in the region, said it was not named in the Lokayukta’s report and using that as a pretext to ban them was unfair.
The government sought more time from the court saying it was ”doing a complete overhaul” of the laws governing the mining and transportation of ore.
By nikhil.k source : livemint.com