The Karnataka government has stuck to its offer of extending the validity of an iron ore transport permit to nine days and declined to consider 12 or 10 days as sought by mining companies.
When Bench of the state high court resumed hearing on the case filed by mining companies against the state government’s ban on export of iron ore today, Ravindra G Kolle, government advocate, submitted the government was not willing to consider more than nine days. While, the petitioners, who were seeking 12 days till now, settled for 10 days.
Kolle referred to a Lokayukta report that had mentioned one day’s time was enough to transport iron ore from the Bellary-Hospet region to Mangalore port (450 km).
Intervening at this point, the chief justice of Karnataka High Court, Justice J S Khehar, suggested the petitioners accept nine days. “If both the parties agree for nine days, the main case pertaining to ban on export of iron ore may not take much time and we could complete the case faster,” he said.
However, the petitioners did not agree to this and sought 10 days’ time.
The chief justice said the court would consider the petitioners’ plea if they proved why they needed more than nine days. Or, they should settle for the government’s offer.
DLN Rao, who appeared for petitioners, sought time till Wednesday to decide on the matter. The case was adjourned for tomorrow.