After ban, Karnataka swings into action

CHITRADURGA: Acting on the directions of the Supreme Court, the district administration on Friday has imposed an immediate ban on extraction and transportation of iron ore in the district.Speaking to Express, Deputy Commissioner Vipul Bansal said, “The ban on ore extraction and transportation will be imposed immediately and no truck will be allowed to move out of the mining area.” He, however, added that iron ore-laden trucks on the roads and outside the mines will be allowed to move out of the district, while warning of strict action against violators.Meanwhile, department of mines and geology has ordered the evacuation of trucks from mining areas.Deputy Director of department Udayashankar told Express that all trucks have been evacuated from the mining areas and the checkposts have been instructed to bar entry of trucks.Expressing happiness over the ban imposed by the apex court, District Bar Association secretary Shivu Yadav said that “justice has at last prevailed”.It may be relevant to note that the SC had ordered the suspension of mining and transportation of iron ore in Chitradurga and Tumkur districts following the recommendation of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to ban mining and assess the subsequent damage to environment.