In yet another setback to mining operations in Karnataka, the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) on Wednesday decided to delist all the mining projects in the state which are pending for environment clearance and are at different stages of processing.
The diktat came after the Supreme Court banned iron ore mining in Bellary, Tumkur and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka last month after it found rampant illegal mining happening in the state.
“It has been decided that all the mining projects which are pending for environment clearance and are at different stages of processing/consideration, both in the ministry and the state environment impact assessment authority will be delisted,? the MoEF said in an order.
The order further added: ?Those projects which have not yet been placed before the Expert Appraisal Committee/ State Expert Appraisal Committee, will be returned.?
Moreover, the ministry has also decided that it will not consider any mining proposal from these three districts till the ban is lifted. There are 11 mining projects awaiting environment clearance in the state.
At present, the CBI is probing the alleged illegal mining and irregularities in allotment of mining leases to Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) and has arrested mining baron Janardhana Reddy and OMC Managing Director Srinivas Reddy.
“Accordingly, the prospective project proponents are advised not to submit any mining proposal for environment clearance till such time the ban is lifted,? the order said.