Taking into consideration the report of the Central Empowerment Committee that the mining activity in the Bellary district of Karnataka had heavily damaged the environment in the surroundings, the Supreme Court today ordered immediate suspension of mining in the district.

“The mining must be stopped with immediate effect,” said the apex court in its order. The court further said that the greed of some people was responsible for the destruction of ecology and environment in the area. “The same greed has also led to the suspension of all mining activity in the district,” observed the court after passing the suspension orders.

The court also asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests to prepare a report on the requirement of iron ore in the country for domestic production of steel and the quantum of the requirement met by Bellary mines. 

“We need a report on the quantity of iron ore used for domestic purposes from the Bellary mines and the quantity of exports made from them,” directed the court. “Both reports should come with in a week,” said the court in its brief order.