The Lok Ayukta report gives shocking figures that expose the greed and lack of concern for environment by mining companies.
The first report submitted in December 2008 said iron ore would last 20 to 25 years at the rate of extraction from 2004 to 2007 in Bellary, Hospet and Sandur region (BHS). But after submission of the report, the production of iron ore, including illegal extraction, went up manifold.
A report by deputy directors of mines of Hospet and Bellary on the total deposition of iron ore and production from 2009 to 2011 revealed that most of the leases would be running out of iron ore deposit in a span of 3 to 12 years.
The consent approvals from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and also the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) were increased irrationally without keeping in view the total deposition of the ore in the leases and environmental damage.
This unscientific and unsustainable extraction caused a serious concern for the existing steel plants and plants coming up in the state in future.
Out of the total 94 leases given by deputy directors of Hospet and Bellary, about 20 leases would have life of 20 years and above provided there is no further increase of production in quantity per year in these leases. Rest all are in ‘red zone’. The life is calculated from the date of consent of MoEF.
The report noted that the consent given by the MoEF and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board was found to be quite arbitrary in many cases. The production was increased in some cases manifold without looking into the reserve available, the life of the leases and the environmental impact.
The environment was highly polluted in the BHS region. Hence, such type of arbitrary consent should be stopped forthwith, the report said.
The ban on iron-ore export was recommended in the second report of Lokayukta. There shall be complete ban on its export. Production of all the leases of the iron-ore should be brought down.
The production should not be increased arbitrarily for one year or so. There should be complete moratorium in the BHS Region to increase production. The present rate of production should be brought down keeping the 2002-03 as base year, the report further said.
