The Karnataka government has initiated steps to resolve some of the teething problems and procedural delays coming in the way of smooth transportation of iron ore sold through e-auction by the monitoring committee.
It has decided to issue round-the-clock transit permits to NMDC’s mines in Bellary district’s Donimalai. Besides, the government will continue to issue transit permits between 6 am and 10 pm for NMDC’s Kumaraswami mining lease in Bellary district.
To ensure the availability of iron ore for the steel and allied industries, the Supreme Court had, in its order dated August 5 last year, permitted NMDC to produce one million tonnes per month in Donimalai and Kumaraswami mining leases and sell it through the e-auction route. The state’s forest department has said a system has been put in place to streamline the process. It has also decided to deploy additional foresters for this purpose. The principal chief conservator of forests is regularly reviewing this matter and additional manpower would be deployed, wherever required.
In its latest report submitted to the apex court on August 16 this year, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) said: “It is expected the production, sale and dispatch of iron ore from the two mining leases of NMDC will take place smoothly, following certain steps taken by the Karnataka government.”
At a meeting convened by CEC on August 13, the Karnataka government clarified it had taken a slew of measures to streamline the issue of transit permits by the forest department (Form 27 and 29) for the iron ore sold through e-auction from the mining leases of NMDC and other lessees, and to expedite the preparation of reclamation and rehabilitation (R&R) plans.
The deputy conservator of forests (DCF), Bellary, on the basis of the bulk permits issued by the mines department, would authorise the issue of Form 27 and 29, without insisting on applications by the buyers concerned. The foresters would issue forest permits on the basis of authorisations from the DCFs. The system of endorsement of these by the range forest officers had been dispensed with, the forest officials told CEC.
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In the absence of the DCFs, the assistant conservators of forests concerned would authorise the issue of forest permits. The forest permit fee for the mineral sold through e-auction would be accepted from the monitoring committee (out of the contingency funds recovered from buyers), and not from individual buyers.
As regards the implementation of R&R plans, the government said the principal secretary for forests and the principal chief conservator of forests had taken steps to ensure no further problems were faced in the transportation of iron ore sold through e-auctions.
The officers concerned have been asked to ensure the R&R plans approved by the lessees are implemented immediately. CEC has also clarified that the respective lessees are responsible for the implementation of the approved R&R plans, even if the lease period has expired.
CEC also impressed upon the Karnataka government to speed up the process of the preparation of R&R plans, as the current pace of progress was disappointing. “The Karnataka state has agreed to take urgent remedial measures in this regard, including, if found necessary, identification of an alternative agency,” it said.
It has decided that the system of advance or long-term e-auction will be made operational without delay.