Karnataka iron ore mines may resume work by July

SC nod can lead to production of 6-7 mt from 49 category A, B mines

The shortage of iron ore in Karnataka is likely to ease by July, as regular mining is expected to resume in a couple of months from now. The Supreme Court-appointed authorities are preparing reclamation and rehabilitation (R&R) plans, stoking hopes of an end to the stalemate.

Once the apex court approves the plans, mining can resume in 49 leases of 50-hectares and above falling under the A and B category mines in the districts of Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur.

The process of preparing the R&R plans is being expedited by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (or ICFRE, an autonomous body under the Union ministry of environment and forests), with the help of the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI), as directed by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).

FIMI has joined hands with ICFRE to expedite the process and make way for the resumption of mining, according to Basant Poddar, southern region chairman of the federation.

“In our opinion, the process of preparation of R&R plans can be completed for as many as 49 mines in Category A and B mines within the next two months. They can start mining thereafter,” he told Business Standard.

According to Poddar, the restart would make available six to seven million tonnes (mt) of ore for the state’s steel mills.

The CEC has directed FIMI to collate the technical information from the lessees in line with the guidelines approved by the Supreme Court. They can then give it in the prescribed format, after vetting the details, to ICFRE, which will prepare the R&R plans.

There are 20 mining leases of 50 hectares and above in category A, besides 29 leases in category B. The CEC had, in its March report, stated that R&R plans for these 49 leases would be prepared in two phases, over two months. Subsequently, FIMI confirmed in a letter dated April 14 that it would be able to complete the exercise for these 49 leases by the middle of June. ICFRE expects R&R plans for these 49 mining leases to be completed at the same time.

The preparatory works being undertaken before the start of the mining operations broadly includes demarcation of the lease boundary on the ground in line with the findings of the joint team.

This will be followed by work on exploration and prospecting for preparation or updation of the mining plan as required by the Indian Bureau of Mines.

At the third level comes survey work by the respective lessees for preparation of the R&R plan and the supplementary environment management plan, identifying areas for over-burdened dumps, plantations, construction of garland drains, check dams and retaining walls, among others.