State to allow exploration in six mines

The Karnataka government on Monday told the Supreme Court that it had issued work order to the tune of Rs 19.96 crore for 6 ‘C’ category mines involving 8,200 meters drilling, which could be put to auction within one month after getting its nod.

The department of mines and geology said the reserve position in 6 mines as per Indian Bureau of Mines data was 43.387 million metric tonne while according to MECL (Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd) it was estimated as 119.895 million metric tonne.

The response came after the apex court had on March 31 pulled up the Karnataka government over its “laxity” in ascertaining the iron ore reserves and going ahead with auctioning of ‘C’ category of mines spread over in Ballari, Chitradurga and Tumakuru.

In an affidavit, the government told the apex court that it was ready for exploration of 6 out of 15 ‘C’ category mines in phase one within one month after getting its approval. With regard to other nine mines, it said the MECL has been urged to provide the reserve positions. Though IBM estimated the reserve to be 42.131 million metric tonne, the government said it should not be taken as final data as there could be variation in exploration data, which could finish the work by the end of June, 2015.

“The State government has issued another work order of Rs 36.78 crore with 18,000 meter drilling with respect to nine mines,” it said.

The State government in compliance to the order of the apex court had in September, 2013 cancelled the 51 ‘C’ category mining leases. The Central Empowered Committee had categorised 51 leases into ‘C’ category in view of gross illegalities.