The Centre will take a “considered” view of the Karnataka government’s decision to ban export of iron ore from 10 ports, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said here on Thursday.
“This (export ban) is a decision which the Government of India will take a considered view on,” Mr. Sharma said.
Earlier this week, Minister of State for Commerce Jyotiraditya Scindia had informed the Lok Sabha that the Centre has no plans to bring about a policy to ban export of iron ore.
In an oblique reference to the alleged illegal mining in the southern State, he had said, “The Karnataka government has permitted what should not have been permitted for too long, including disappearance of close to one million tonnes of iron ore, and there are many questions there.”
Karnataka, a leading source of iron ore, has announced a ban on transport and export of the mineral from 10 ports. Of the 230 million tonnes iron ore produced in India, the State accounted for about 49 million tonnes.
