Supreme Court eases curbs on iron ore export from 3 Karnataka districts

BENGALURU: The Supreme Court on Friday lifted the curbs on export of iron ore from three districts of Karnataka, namely Ballari, Chitradurga and Tumakuru. Central PSUs can now export iron ore, subject to certain guidelines.

A Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana, heard a plea by iron ore exporters against the curbs imposed in 2011 and said the mines in Karnataka need a level playing field and the time has now come to review the curbs since the environmental conditions have improved.

The court also said that the already mined ore can be sold to directly to mining companies and allowed export as per the Union government’s policy. Since 2011, only e-auctions were allowed in these three districts.