The Indian steel industry may have something to cheer about this New Year as 15 to 20 miners from Karnataka’s mining belts are likely to get the nod to resume mining activities later this month.

The Central Empowered Committee will present a report and make recommendations on all representations made before them till late December 2011 by January 15th 2012 to the Supreme Court.

Sources indicate that the 15 to 20 mining lessees, who have been carrying out legitimate mining, are likely to be given the nod by the Apex Court to resume activities.

The future of the other miners and lessees remains uncertain.

The lessees were broadly divided into three categories for the sake of identifying and recommendations.
‘A’ category referred to legal lessees with no violations
‘B’ category with small deviations and violations, which could be set right by imposing suitable fines and corrective measures
‘C’ category referred to gross violations, whose operations are likely to be terminated

They were broadly divided on the basis of documents filed and surveys conducted for identification. The five member CEC, headed by Mr PV Jayakrishnan heard the last of the lessees on December 23rd 2011 and allowed time till December 30th 2011, to file any additional information or files, if requested.

(Sourced from ibnlive.in.com)