The move by the Karnataka government to ban iron ore exports from its 10 ports to contain illegal mining is snowballing into a major controversy with the exporters.
The state government is also tightening the screws on moving of iron ore to other ports in the country. The apex mineral association, the Federation of Indian Minerals Industries, has termed this move as the one that will hurt the industry and said it may move High Court against this ban.
Senior state government officials said the ports from where transport and export of iron ore would be banned include Karwar, Old Mangalore, Padubidri, Belekeri, Honnavar, Bhatkal, Malpe and Kundapur.
Karnataka produces close to 20 per cent of India’s 215-million-tonne iron ore production.