The mining industry sees the Supreme Court's ban on iron ore mining in Bellary on top of an existing ban on iron ore exports as a double whammy.
The ban on exports and now the SC verdict have left around 20,000 people directly employed and another 80,000 indirectly in the lurch.
The dependents and family members of people employed are said to be about 3 lakh.
This has impacted both captive and non-captive mines and also sponge iron and pellet units.
“The entire industry was disturbed by the ore export ban and now, Bellary district will get affected by the Supreme Court verdict,” said a spokesperson of a large mining company from Hospet.
The district was once dependent on agriculture and its allied activities.
But suddenly in the last decade, saw value in iron ore mining and exports.
The sudden riches saw huge influx of migrants in search of employment.
“Now, it is the future of these migrants that is at stake,” said the mine owner.
Mr S.R. Hiremath, President of Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS), which had filed the writ petition in Supreme Court against the illegal mining in Karnataka, has welcomed the verdict.
“The apex court decision not only protects ecology and environment in Bellary but restores livelihood security of the local communities.
Many local communities are dependent on agriculture, animal husbandry and horticulture.”
“The verdict also sends a significant and a clear message to the powerful nexus among the corrupt politicians, officials and mining mafia,” he added.
Mr Hiremath said, “I feel that this decision will go a long way in helping reclamation and rehabilitation of the mined areas, which constitute a part of the plan that each mine holder has to submit to the Indian Bureau of Mines.
“But very seldom they comply with it”.