No more mineral transport permits in Karnataka

The Karnataka government on Wednesday banned the issue of permits to transport iron ore and other minerals for exports. “To protect natural resources and to check illegal mining and illegal export of minerals,it has been decided to stop issue of Mineral Dispatch Permits with immediate effect,” a notification issued by the state’s Commerce and Industries Department said here.

The notification added that the department was in the process of framing a new set of guidelines governing issue of the transport permits in the wake of illegal exports reported from Belekere and Karwar ports recently.

The government was collecting information on the quantum of mineral production in the state,extent of minerals available for local industries for value addition and the quantum that was being exported now,it said.

Two days ago,the B S Yeddyurappa government had ordered closure of 10 ports to curb the illegal export of iron ore after it came under intense attack from the Congress,which is on a padayatra over the issue since July 25.