The Supreme Court has said the implementation of reclamation and rehabilitation (R&R) plans for Karnataka mines “shall start immediately.”
The apex court earlier accepted a report by its panel — the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) — in this regard.
The CEC found instances of illegal mining and environmental degradation in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts. A Forest Bench comprising the Chief Justice, Mr S. H. Kapadia, and Justices Mr Aftab Alam and Mr Swatanter Kumar, said: “It is made clear that preparation, implementation and monitoring of R&R plan will be under the supervision of CEC.”
The R&R plans are being prepared by the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries for leases of over 50 hectares, an official of the federation of Indian Mineral Industries said. These plans are likely to be ready within a month and will be vetted by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehra Dun.
The court also sought the CEC's recommendations on the modalities for disposal of idle iron ore stocks.
The CEC report had categorised the mines as A, B and C. Mines with no or minimum irregularities were in category A, while those with the maximum was in ‘C'.
HEARING ON APRIL 20
The court wanted to know from the CEC if preparatory work can be started for operationalisation of category ‘A' mines (21 of them). This is on the condition that the operators have complied with norms on environment and land usage.
The matter is to be heard again on April 20. Last year, the court had banned mining in these three districts (in July, it banned mining in Bellary and in August in the other two districts) and had directed an environmental impact assessment.
However, the court later permitted only the public sector NMDC to mine up to one million tonnes a month from its captive mines in Karnataka, and said sales should be carried out only through e-auctions.
Meanwhile, the shares of JSW (an affected company) jumped to a three week high of 4.6 percent to touch Rs 739.85 at BSE. This was on the possibility of an apex court order soon on restarting of mining in some mines.