BANGALORE: The Indian steel industry may have something to cheer about this New Year as 15 to 20 miners from Karnataka’s mining belts are likely to get the nod to resume mining activities later this month.
The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) will present a report and make recommendations on all representations made before them till late December, 2011, by January 15, 2012, to the Supreme Court. Sources indicate that the 15-20 mining lessees (a person or corporation to whom a lease is granted), who have been carrying out legitimate mining, are likely to be given the nod by the Apex Court to resume activities. The future of the other miners and lessees remains uncertain.
The lessees were broadly divided into three categories for the sake of identifying and recommendations. ‘A’ category referred to legal lessees with no violations, ‘B’ category with small deviations and violations, which could be set right by imposing suitable fines and corrective measures and ‘C’ category referred to gross violations, whose operations are likely to be terminated.
They were broadly divided on the basis of documents filed and surveys conducted for identification. The five-member CEC, headed by P V Jayakrishnan, heard the last of the lessees on December 23, 2011, and allowed time till December 30, 2011, to file any additional information or files, if requested.