Miners hope K'taka will allow iron ore exports by April

Iron ore miners on Sunday expressed hope that Karnataka will allow the mineral's exports by April, following the Supreme Court's directive to the state to notify by March a new law to check illegal mining.

“Based on the court's proceedings, it looks certain that from April 2011, the ban would be lifted and we will be able to produce and dispatch in normal course,” Sesa Goa's Managing Director P K Mukherjee said.

Iron ore exports have reduced by over 30% since July last year when the Karnataka government banned issue of permits to transport iron ore and other minerals for export purposes from the state to check illegal mining.

However, the apex court directed the state government on Friday to notify a proposed law — Karnataka Prevention of Illegal Mining Transportation and a Storage of Minerals Act, 2011, by March 31 this year.

The bench further said that if the new law is not notified by then, mining firms would be entitled to get interim relief. It will hear the matter again on April 4.