To increase iron ore production from its Kumaraswamy mines in Karnataka from seven million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 10 million tonnes, NMDC Ltd. will spend about Rs 900 crore over the next two to three years.
In a meeting conducted between November 9 and 11, an Expert Appraisal Committee working under the Minister of Environment and Forests gave its approval for the Environmental Clearance, allowing NMDC to increase production. The EC is good until 2042, according to company sources.
In August, the Supreme Court raised the ceiling limit of iron ore mining from 28 MMT ( million metric tonne) to 35 MMT for Ballari district, and from 7 MMT to 15 MMT for Chitradurga and Tumkur districts in Karnataka.
