Supreme Court refused to lift Ban on Mining Activities in Karnataka

The Supreme Court of India on 17 August 2012 ruled that it would not allow resumption of mining activities of iron ore in Karnataka unless there is a statutory compliance and full implementation of reclamation and rehabilitation measures.

A special forest bench comprised of Justice Aftab Alam, K.S. Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar accepted all recommendations of August 16 report of the apex court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC). The Apex Court directed the authorities in Karnataka to fully cooperate in the implementation of the suggestions.

The Supreme Court was hearing to a petition filed by an NGO Samaj Parivartana Samudaya. against the illegal mining and encroachment of forest areas in the state. Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan appeared for NGO.

An alleged 35 lakh metric tons of iron ore have been illegally exported by private firms in Karnataka. Accepting the recommendations of CEC, the Supreme Court on 13 April 2012 had suspended new mining leases in Bellary, Tumkur and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka unless rehabilitation plans for the existing leases were executed.