Order
IA No. 22 — CEC report dated 18-8-2011
1. On going through the report of the Central Empowered Committee (“CEC”, for short), we extend the order passed by this Court on 29-7-2011, to the mining leases in Districts Tumkur and Chitradurga. Consequently, pending further orders, there will be a ban on mining in Districts Tumkur and Chitradurga.
2. According to the CEC report, which is based on leasewise information compiled by the Department of Mines and Geology, Karnataka, a stock of 25 million tonnes of iron ore extracted from various mining leases in Districts Bellary, Tumkur and Chitradurga is available. The question is, how much quantity could be released from the existing stock of 25 million tonnes of iron ore so that the steel industry is not starved.
3. We have requested the learned amicus curiae and the learned Attorney General to submit to this Court the quantity which could be released from the existing stock of 25 million tonnes of iron ore, subject to reclamation and rehabilitation plan(s) being submitted. In that regard, the lessees, association of steel industry and all other affected parties as well as the petitioner, will submit requisite inputs to CEC within two days from today so that the quantity to be released from the existing stock could be decided by this Court. Needless to add that, apart from the quantification of the stock to be released, the modalities of sale and transportation of such stock will also be formulated and submitted to the Court on the next date of hearing. For that purpose, place the matter on 2-9-2011.
4. By order dated 6-5-2011, we had directed the joint team to carry out the survey and demarcation of 99 mining leases in District Bellary. We direct that the said order shall also stand extended to the mining leases in Districts Tumkur and Chitradurga and for the remaining mines in District Bellary.
5. On the next date i.e 2-9-2011, CEC will also furnish to this Court the name of the government agency which would be in charge of effecting sale(s) of the existing stock and keeping accounts of the sale proceeds (including royalty payable at the rate of ten per cent of the market price).
6. We also hereby extend our order dated 5-8-2011 (2011) 15 SCC 599, to the districts of Tumkur and Chitradurga, by which we had directed Icfre to undertake macro-level EIA study in respect of District Bellary and to submit reclamation and rehabilitation plan. Consequently, the said order shall equally apply to the districts of Tumkur and Chitradurga.
7. Subject to the above, place the matter on 16-9-2011.