Karnataka CM for curbs on export of iron ore
AGENCIES
BANGALORE, JULY 4
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking for curbs on the export of iron ore from the country. He has requested the Prime Minister to convene a meeting of chief ministers of mineral-rich States to discuss the issue.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, Yeddyurappa said over-exploitation of mines and illegal mining has been a major concern of all the mineral rich States of the country. Despite several efforts by the State Governments, the problems continue to persist.
He said his government had implemented a Value Added Policy in the mining sector, under which mining leases are sanctioned only when the applicant demonstrates that there is value addition within Karnataka. The applicant has to either process the iron ore or has to tie up with a processing company in Karnataka.
Instead of bulk permits, which were misused by mine owners, now specific permits are given for each load and trip. Bar coding and hologram-based trip sheets have been introduced to avoid fake permits, and integrated check-posts have been set up.
