SC permits 63 mines to resume operations in Karnataka, cancels 49 others

NEW DELHi: The Supreme Court on Thursday permitted 63 'B' category mines to resume mining iron ore from Karnataka's Bellary district but cancelled the leases of 49 'C' category mines.

The court had earlier permitted 18 'A' category mines to resume mining if they completed their part in restoring the area's ecology and paying compensatory allowances.

The top court had on July 29 2011 banned all mining in the area following reports of large scale illegal mining in the area.

A year later it banned mining in Goa. These twin bans had hit the iron and steel industry hard. Taking these factors into consideration, the court today relaxed the ban on mining. But all mining along the Andhra-Karnataka border will remain suspended till the border dispute between the two states is resolved.