In continuing search and seizures of illegally mined iron ore after the July 29 Supreme Court ban on mining in the district, police have seized 200 tonnes of the mineral valued at Rs 12 lakh near Obulapuram village on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border.
Police said the seizure was effected on Friday night on a tip off that a trader from Karnataka had stored the material there.
On July 29, the Apex Court had ordered immediate suspension of mining and transportation of iron ore from Bellary district saying “over-exploitation” of the area has caused large-scale environmental degradation.
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The court passed the order by taking note of its expert panel, Central Empowered Committee, which said most miners in the region were indulging in illegal mining causing considerable environmental damage.