CEC favours iron ore transportation from Karnataka

Karnataka : The Supreme Court (SC)-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has recommended transportation of about 25 million tonnes (mt) of iron ore already mined and at various mines in Karnataka. The matter is likely to come up for hearing on Friday.

If the apex court approves the recommendation, it would give temporary relief to domestic steel mills in and around Karnataka, which are facing severe shortage of iron ore, the basic raw material to make steel. Steel mills, pig iron and sponge iron manufacturers based in Karnataka, which account for about 30 per cent of the national steel output, require about 45 mt of iron ore for the current year.

The CEC, in its report to the SC on August 18, said, “Keeping in view the requirement of iron ore for steel and associated industries, it may be appropriate that the already extracted ore in the various mines in the districts of Bellary, Tumkur and Chitradurga is allowed to be utilised subject to conditions.”