<p>The Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has rejected the suggestion of undertaking underground mining in Western Ghat region to extract iron ore deposit. <br /><br /></p>.<p>CEC advocate Sham Divan in his submission before the Supreme Court on Friday said that suggestions of the underground mining should be rejected. The Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment and Forest, had earlier recommended in its Environment Impact Assessment report on illegal mining in Karnataka for undertaking underground mining in Western Ghats to extract the large deposits magnetite iron ore. <br /><br />“There is a need to commission a feasibility study to bring in superior underground mining technology which is more environmental friendly in the Western Ghats to extract 10 billion tonnes of magnetite iron ore available in the country. Out of this eight billion tonnes is in Karnataka alone”, the ICFRE suggested. As this suggestion was beyond the limit of ICFRE and it can be rejected, he said in the submission.<br /><br />The institution also suggested deployment of modern technology used in Australia and Europe for the purpose. However Karnataka government and environmentalists have opposed the suggestion of underground mining, fearing it would destruct bio-diversity.<br /><br />Even earlier a high level committee headed by Secretary for Steel P K Mishra had also recommended for removal of iron ore from the Western Ghats to meet the demand for ore amongst domestic steel producers. Since 10 billion tonnes of magnetite or natural iron ore (with greater than 60 per cent iron content) is found in the Ghats, the panel felt it could be explored to meet the demand of the steel makers. Around eight billion tonnes of this ore deposit is expected to be found in the Western Ghats section of Karnataka alone.<br /><br />Despite strong opposition from the environmentalists, the mining lobby has been demanding excavation in the Western Ghats to compensate for the shutting down of activities in Bellary.<br /><br />India produced about 208 million tonnes of iron ore in 2010-11; half of the quality ore was exported. In 2011-12, it will require 115 mt of iron ore for the projected production of 73.7 mt of steel. In next five years, around 206 mt of ore is required to produce the projected 125.9 mt of steel.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has rejected the suggestion of undertaking underground mining in Western Ghat region to extract iron ore deposit. <br /><br /></p>.<p>CEC advocate Sham Divan in his submission before the Supreme Court on Friday said that suggestions of the underground mining should be rejected. The Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment and Forest, had earlier recommended in its Environment Impact Assessment report on illegal mining in Karnataka for undertaking underground mining in Western Ghats to extract the large deposits magnetite iron ore. <br /><br />“There is a need to commission a feasibility study to bring in superior underground mining technology which is more environmental friendly in the Western Ghats to extract 10 billion tonnes of magnetite iron ore available in the country. Out of this eight billion tonnes is in Karnataka alone”, the ICFRE suggested. As this suggestion was beyond the limit of ICFRE and it can be rejected, he said in the submission.<br /><br />The institution also suggested deployment of modern technology used in Australia and Europe for the purpose. However Karnataka government and environmentalists have opposed the suggestion of underground mining, fearing it would destruct bio-diversity.<br /><br />Even earlier a high level committee headed by Secretary for Steel P K Mishra had also recommended for removal of iron ore from the Western Ghats to meet the demand for ore amongst domestic steel producers. Since 10 billion tonnes of magnetite or natural iron ore (with greater than 60 per cent iron content) is found in the Ghats, the panel felt it could be explored to meet the demand of the steel makers. Around eight billion tonnes of this ore deposit is expected to be found in the Western Ghats section of Karnataka alone.<br /><br />Despite strong opposition from the environmentalists, the mining lobby has been demanding excavation in the Western Ghats to compensate for the shutting down of activities in Bellary.<br /><br />India produced about 208 million tonnes of iron ore in 2010-11; half of the quality ore was exported. In 2011-12, it will require 115 mt of iron ore for the projected production of 73.7 mt of steel. In next five years, around 206 mt of ore is required to produce the projected 125.9 mt of steel.</p>
