Heavy Industries Minister R V Deshpande on Friday requested the Union steel minister to direct NMDC to supply iron ore to sponge iron units in Ballari district.

Deshpande told Steel Minister Rao Birender Singh that due paucity of ore, hundreds of sponge iron units were on the verge of closure. Hence, NMDC should ensure sufficient availability of ore, he said.

Deshpande, who also met Union Environment and Forests Minister Anil M Dave, said the state has conveyed its reservation to the notification issued by the Environment Ministry on declaring eco-sensitive zones in the Western Ghats.  “The Union Minister asked us to submit the state's view in writing,” he added.