SC refuses to entertain Steel Ministry's plea on relaxing mining cap

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a Steel Ministry’s petition seeking relaxation of the limits of permissible production of mines currently functional in Karnataka.

A three-judge forest bench headed by Justice AK Patnaik did not accept the plea of the ministry after an NGO from Karnataka raised objection saying the application was aimed at seeking review of the apex court’s 18 April, 2013 verdict.

The ministry had sought raising the cap from 30 million metric tonne to 50 million metric tonne to meet the current shortfall of industry’s requirement which was opposed by the NGO, Samaj Parivartana Samudaya.

Subsequently after imposing the limit in April 2012, the apex court on 18 April, 2013 had ordered “complete closure” of mines categorised as having maximum illegalities in Bellary, Tumkur and Chitradurga districts in Karnataka, saying illegal mining there has played “havoc” with the economy and has had “a chilling and crippling effect on ecology and environment”.

It had however, permitted resumption of iron ore mining in category A and B mines in the three districts but only after fulfilment of the guidelines, including reclamation and rehabilitation, as recommended by the apex court-appointed Central Empowered Committee.

Of the 166 mining leases where the court had banned operations on 29 July and 26 August, 2011, activity in seven category B mines was suspended by the court as they fell on Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border.

PTI