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SC allows iron ore exports for Karnataka miners
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SME Times News Bureau | 21 May, 2022
In a big relief for Karnataka miners, the Supreme Court on Friday
relaxed restrictions on selling of extracted iron ore through e-auction
only as it allowed export the stocks, including pellets, produced from
the mines in the state's Ballari, Chitradurga and Tumakuru, as per the
existing policy.
A bench, headed by Chief Justice N.V.
Ramana, said: "We are inclined to favourably consider the prayer made by
the applicants and grant them permission to sell the already excavated
iron ore stock-pile at various mines and stock yards located in the
districts of Bellary, Tumkur, and Chitradurga in the state of Karnataka,
without having to resort to the process of e-auction. Permission is
granted to the applicants to enter into direct contracts to lift the
excavated iron ore through inter-state sales."
"We also grant
permission to the applicants to export the iron ore and pellets
manufactured from the iron ore produced from the mines situated in the
state of Karnataka, to countries abroad, as is being done in the rest of
the country, but strictly in terms of the extant policy of the
Government of India."
The bench, also comprising Justices Krishna
Murari and Hima Kohli, said time has come to review the system that was
put in place over a decade ago, on halting the unchecked excavation of
iron ore in the three prime districts in Karnataka.
"Ever since
then, e-auction has been the only mode available for disposal of the
excavated iron ore. The said arrangement has worked out satisfactorily
so far. The situation that was prevalent in the region prior to the year
2011, has now changed for the better," it added.
The bench said
it needs to relax the order passed in September 2011, against the
backdrop of various steps taken by the government. "Having regard to the
course correction that has taken place, the regeneration post the
ruinous damage caused to the environment and the various steps taken by
the government, we are of the opinion that the order passed on September
23, 2011 deserves to be relaxed," it said.
Noting that
consecutive e-auctions conducted by the monitoring committee have been
receiving a poor response and sale of iron ore even at the reserve price
is dismally low, it said that records reveal that repeated attempts to
resort to the e-auction process for the sale of already excavated iron
ore mined in the three Karnataka districts have not borne any fruitful
results.
"As a consequence thereof, large stock of iron ore,
including sub-grade iron ore, is lying unused. As on March 31, 2022, the
stocks available in category 'A' and 'B' mines is stated to be
82,98,130.5 MT. The stocks available in the auctioned category 'C' mines
as on the above date is 12,25,100.5 MTs. The stock in respect of
e-auction category 'A' and category 'B' expired leases is 2,33,126.73
MTs and in mining leases outside the districts of Bellary, Chitradurga
and Tumkur, is 93,181 MT. The closing balance of iron ore available in
all the mines across the state of Karnataka as on March 31, 2022, adds
up to 11,94,783.93 MT," it added.
The top court has scheduled the
plea for hearing on lifting the ceiling on extraction of iron ore for
consideration in the second week of July. It also sought a view of an
oversight authority appointed in April this year.
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