Karnataka to examine KIOCL plea

The Karnataka government will examine the plea of the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd (KIOCL) for permission to undertake slope stabilisation and filling up of trenches at the iron ore mines in Kudremukh.

The KIOCL had to stop mining in 2005 after the Supreme Court directed the company to wind up its operations owing to ecological sensitivity of Western Ghats. Since then, KIOCL has been trying to identify alternative mining sites in Bellary district of Karnataka and Orissa. The company employs nearly 2,000 people.

Deputy chief minister B S Yediyurappa on Thursday met a delegation of the KIOCL, led by its managing director P Ganesan. The delegation emphasised the need to grant permission to the KIOCL to take up slope stabilisation of the now abandoned mines.

"Resuming mining in the Western Ghats is ruled out on account of the Supreme Court verdict. But we are concerned about the welfare of the employees.

The issue of slope stabilisation will be discussed at the government level before taking a final decision," Yediyurappa told reporters here after meeting the KIOCL delegation.

He said the government is committed to make alternative arrangements for the KIOCL to continue its operations outside the Western Ghats.

"The matter has to be discussed at the chief minister's level," he said.