Date:18/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/18/stories/2006051812980400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Amend law to enable KIOCL to resume mining'

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Government must take steps to amend laws to enable Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. (KIOCL) to resume mining operations, N. Rama Reddy, Chairman of the Labour Ministry's Central Advisory Committee, Iron Ore, Manganese Ore Mines and Chrome Ore Mines Labour Welfare Fund, said here on Wednesday.

Mr. Reddy told presspersons he had recently visited Kudremukh and loked into the allegations of non-governmental organisations and environmentalists and listened to the views of people in nearby villages.

He said he had seen efforts of KIOCL management to minimise the impact of mining on the ecologically sensitive region. "The work of KIOCL to green the areas and ensure that mining operations were taken up in an environment-friendly way is highly commendable." After seeing the lush green cover and the development of the surrounding villages, he was surprised at the allegations made by the NGOs, he added.