Karnataka Iron Ore Mining | 02 Sep 2022

Why in News?

Recently, the Supreme Court raised the “ceiling limit” of iron ore mining for Ballari, Chitradurga and Tumakuru districts in Karnataka, saying conservation of the ecology and environment must go hand in hand with the spirit of economic development.

• Ten years after the Supreme Court clamped down on production and sale of iron ore in Karnataka, the Court has relaxed its own orders.

What do we need to know about the Karnataka Iron Ore Mining Ban?

• Background:
  • In 2010, the Supreme Court shut down the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) in Ballari, after a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe was initiated in 2009 for illegal mining.
    • The illegal mining resulted in plunder of public wealth, massive loss to exchequer, encroached forest land, ravaged environment and large scale health issue among local population.
  • The two Lokayukta Reports of 2008 and 2011 exposed over 700 government officials, including three chief ministers in the illegal mining scandal.
• Supreme Court’s Orders:
  • After the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) report brought attention to rampant violations in mining, the SC passed an order in 2011 to stop mining operations in Ballari.
  • Additionally, SC banned export of iron ore pellets from Karnataka with an aim to prevent environmental degradation and to preserve for future generations as part of the concept of intergenerational equity.
    • SC also fixed the maximum permissible annual production limit at 35 MMT for A and B category mines.
  • It directed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to draw up a reclamation and rehabilitation (R&R) plan to reverse the environmental damage caused by illegal mining.
  • In 2012, the SC allowed 18 “category A” mines to resume operations.
    • Mines were categorized depending on the extent of illegalities committed by them:
      • A Category Mines: These are “leases wherein no illegality/marginal illegality have been found”
      • Mines with more serious infractions fall into B and C categories, based on their respective offences.
    • Once the mines were allowed to restart, the ore was sold through e-auctions.
• Implication of Order:
  • With closure of mines, steel mills faced raw material shortages, forcing them to import from outside India, thereby opening up the country to business for global iron ore giants.
  • The restrictions on production, e-auction and prices had also affected lakhs of mining dependents in Karnataka making their livelihood uncertain.

What have been the Recent Developments on the Issue?

• Mining Firms Appeal:
  • In May 2022, Mining Firms had asked the SC to scrap e-auction norms in the export or sale of iron ore for mining lessees in the districts of Ballari, Tumakuru and Chitradurga.
  • They claimed that they were facing closure due to their stocks not getting sold
• Karnataka Government’s Stand:
  • The government of Karnataka is in favour of a complete removal of the ceiling limit.
• Original Petitioners Stand:
  • The original petitioner opposed any exports on the grounds that minerals are national assets that need to be preserved and only finished steel should be exported.
• Supreme Court’s Ruling:
  • The Supreme Court has permitted resumption of exports of already excavated iron ore from the state through modes other than e-auction, and also increased the ceiling limit on mining for the following mines:
    • Ballari: from 28 MMT to 35 MMT
    • Chitradurga and Tumakuru districts: from 7 MMT to 15 MMT
  • The court ruled that it was necessary to create a level playing field for the mines situated in the three districts with others in the rest of the country.

Source: TH