Mine lords in ore-rich Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur, who experienced a windfall when iron ore mining peaked in 2008, are now paying a heavy price as the Supreme Court has ordered the cancellation of all the 51 mining leases which fall under category 'C.'
Following the SC order dated April 18, the Central Empowered Committee reportedly told the state government to complete the cancellation process of 51 category ‘C’ mines by June.
What is interesting is that Tumkur which has over 15 per cent of mining leases of the 166 granted for three ore-rich districts, tops in cancellation of category ‘C’ mines as 12 out of its 25 mining firms fall under category ‘C’ mines, which is 48 per cent of the firms.
The second position goes to Chitradurga as eight mining leases out of the 24 fall under category ‘C.’ Chitradurga has over 14 per cent mining leases out of the 166. Accordingly, 33.33 per cent of its firms fall under category ‘C’ mines.
Even though Bellary has the highest number of leases of over 70 per cent, only 26 per cent falls under category ‘C.’ Of 117 mining leases, 31 are listed under category ‘C’ mines.
According to the CEC report dated February 4, 2012, category ‘C’ mines have encroached on 895.22 hectares of ore-rich land for illegal mining. Illegally encroached lands have been used for mining pits, to dump waste material, lay internal roads among others.
The report revealed that in addition to lands granted for mining activities, 1,606.91 hectares were encroached in the three districts by 166 mining firms which falls in category ‘A, B and C.’ The firms were allowed mining activities in around 11,153 hectares.