Chhattisgarh which holds about 20% of India's iron ore reserves has urged the prime minister to impose a ban on its exports, saying it wanted the supplies for domestic use to boost jobs.

Dr Raman Singh chief minister of Chhattisgarh told Reuters that he was strongly in favor of putting an immediate ban on iron ore exports from the state and had formally informed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about this.

A ban on exports was one of DR Raman Singh's election promises in 2003, but this is the first time he has formally sought a ban. State run NMDC is the only iron ore miner in Chhattisgarh and any ban must come from the federal government.

Chhattisgarh joins Orissa in seeking a ban on exports by state run miners, a move that raises prospects of tightening supplies from the world's third largest iron ore exporter and firming global prices.

Karnataka already has a ban on exports from private firms which they are currently appealing at the Supreme Court.

(Sourced from Reuters)