Mining Activities Prohibited by Apex Court
The Minister of State for Mines, Steel and Labour and Employment, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has said that as per available information, the Supreme Court has absolutely prohibited mining in the following areas:
(i) Supreme Court has ordered stoppage of mining operations of 7 iron ore mining leases in Bellary district, Karnataka falling within the prescribed radius of Jambunathahalli temple in August 2010;
(ii) Supreme Court has ordered stoppage of mining activities in Kudremukh Iron ore mines of M/s. KIOCL in Chickamagalur district of Karnataka with effect from 31.12.2005 on environmental aspects as the mining area is falling in Kudremukh Wild Life Sanctuary;
(iii) Supreme Court vide order dated 02.11.2012 in an Interlocutory Application in Writ Petition No. 562/2009 and other connected matters directed that no mining operations of any kind in the Western Ghats is to be countenanced.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has said that the Supreme Court has also prohibited mining in the following areas without obtaining necessary legal and statutory clearances:
(i) Mining operations in the area of Aravalli hills of Rajasthan has been prohibited by the Supreme Court. State Government of Rajasthan has banned mining activities in Aravalli Hills range and restrained operation in 52 mines;
(ii) Supreme Court vide judgment dated 18.4.2013 directed to cancel 51 mines in the State of Karnataka. State Government of Karnataka has cancelled 51 mines on 12.9.2013;
(iii) On the directions of the Supreme Court, State Government of Andhra Pradesh had suspended mining operations in the six iron ore Mining leases in Obulapuram area in Anantpur district due to inter-state boundary dispute vide G.O 723 dated 25.11.2009;
(iv) Supreme Court vide interim order dated 16.05.2014 in Writ petition (Civil) No. 114 of 2014 ordered suspension of 26 mines of iron and manganese ores in the State of Odisha; and
He said that Compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court lies with the concerned State Governments and data in this regard is not centrally maintained.
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NSK/NN