No mining in Karnataka till R&R measures are implemented: SC

Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsThe Supreme Court today said it would not allow resumptionof mining activities of iron and ore in Karnataka unless there is a statutorycompliance and full implementation of reclamation and rehabilitation measures."You don't press for resumption of mining activitiesunless we are sure that there is a statutory compliance. No mining activitieswill resume unless reclamation and rehabilitation (R&R) measures are fullyimplemented. All statutory compliance should be there," a special forestbench headed by justice Aftab Alam said.The bench, which accepted all recommendations of August 16report of the apex court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), asked theauthorities in Karnataka to fully cooperate in the implementation of thesuggestions.The report said there was no need for any order forresumption of mining activities till the recommendations are implemented forwhich all stakeholders had the meeting early this week.The Bench granted the CEC two weeks to file a comprehensivereport detailing the steps taken for statutory compliance, implementation ofR&R measures and the permission needed for the resumption of mining.The bench, also comprising justices K S Radhakrishnan andSwatanter Kumar, also asked the CEC to look into the claims of advocatePrashant Bhushan that other serious illegalities and environmental damages havebeen caused by those operating on category A mines and many of which are inforest area.Bhushan was appearing for NGO, Samaj Parivartana Samudaya,which has filed PIL against the illegal mining and encroahment of forest areasin the state.The apex court fixed August 23 to hear arguments on the CECreport of April 27 in which CBI investigation was recommended for theft of ironore from Belekere port allegedly involving business houses.The Supreme Court on April 13 had accepted the CECrecommendations suggesting that no new mining leases should be granted inBellary, Tumkur and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka unless rehabilitationplans for the existing leases were executed.Further the bench had also asked CEC whether work operationsin the category 'A' mines, where irregularities were the least, could becommenced.Earlier in its report the CEC had distinguished mines in thearea in three categories as A, B and C.The mines in which there was least or no irregularities wascategorised as 'A' and those with maximum illegalities as 'C' category.The bench was hearing the application filed by KarnatakaIron and Steel Manufacturing Association seeking direction for taking immediatesteps for opening of 16 iron and ore mines in which the apex court appointedexpert panel, central empowered committee (CEC), had found minimumirregularities.During the last hearing National Mineral DevelopmentCorporation (NMDC) counsel Arvind Datar had said there was no difficulty inproduction of the minerals but the area of concern was the shortage of rakesfor its transportation and absence of long time contract was coming in the wayof extracting large-scale iron and ore.He said long term e-auction will help in solving thecontract for extraction of the mineralfirst published:January 01, 1970, 05:30 ISTlast updated:January 01, 1970, 05:30 IST
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