India’s Supreme Court has given the go-ahead to increase the annual iron ore mining cap in the southern Indian state of Karnataka to 35 million mt per year from 30 million mt per year, a government official said on Thursday, December 14.
However, the increased production of iron ore will be permitted only from Category A and Category B mines in the state, the official said. There are 117 Category A and B mines in Karnataka.
The Supreme Court in an earlier verdict on illegal mining of iron ore had categorized iron ore mines in Karnataka into three categories based on the extent of illegal mining done by leaseholders.