CB BureauBy the end of November, 24 companies are likely to resume
mining in their respective areas as a temporary sanction on their operations
has been lifted by the Supreme Court (SC).
According to reports, Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has
cleared the names of 24 mining companies for restarting operations. The
committee was appointed by the SC to conduct the survey of iron ore mines and
demarcate the boundaries in three districts of Karnataka.
CEC in its report has said that these companies can be
allowed to mine but subject to environment impact assessment (EIA) plan and
reclamation and rehabilitation plan. The plans are to be prepared by the Indian
Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and the state of Karnataka,
respectively, and approved by the court.
Some companies were found guilty of illegal mining, as they
went to mine beyond the area allowed in the lease. These companies may be
allowed to resume operations only after the damaged area is physically
reclaimed and rehabilitated.
The ICFRE is said to have completed the EIA study for
Bellary district and is likely to give the report to the apex court this week.
The Supreme Court had directed suspension of mining activities in the state in
its July 29 order.
The companies already cleared by CEC include NMDC, Mysore
Minerals Ltd, Ramgadh Mining and Minerals Ltd, Shantipriya, Allum Prashant, H N
Premkumar, PBS, Gavisiddeshwara, ZTC, Varalakshmi Mining, Nadeem Minerals,
Tiffen Barytes, VNK Menon, VESCO , B Kumargoud, Allum Basavaraj, and AM
Minerals.
Bellary contributes 80 per cent of the 45-50 million tonnes
iron ore output from the state annually. If the said 24 companies are allowed
to restart mining, the steel industry can hope for about 10-15 million tonnes
of ore in addition to what they are already securing through e-auctions.
Until now, four rounds of auctions have been held and nearly
four million tonnes of iron ore released to domestic steel mills.
SC gets environment impact assessment report on Bellary
While the Supreme Court is busy studying the CEC report that
has cleared the names of 24 mining companies for restarting operations in
Bellary, the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education has submitted
their EIA study of mining in the region to the court.
‘The Supreme Court through an order dated 5 August 2011 had
directed ICFRE to carry out macro EIA study of Bellary district and submit its
report to the Supreme Court within three months. We were able to submit it
within two months,’ Dr VK Bahuguna, director general, told The Indian Express.
The assessment team led by Dr Bahuguna comprised 50 members
including scientists, laboratory analysts, and satellite imagery analysts from
Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Forest Survey of India (FSI), and National
Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad.
The submitted report has insights on impact of mining on the
lives of people in the villages, with emphasis on agriculture and horticulture
production, groundwater table, health, and socio-economic conditions.