New Delhi  : The Karnataka government of Karnataka detected 12891 cases of illegal mining of minor and major minerals for the period June, 2006 till December, 2009, and for the year 2010-11, it has reported 6476 cases of illegal mining.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Mines (Independent Charge) Dinsha Patel in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

“Details of iron ore produced illegally in Karnataka are not maintained centrally. As per the National Mineral Inventory maintained by the Indian Bureau of Mines, 34.91 per cent of total iron ore resources in the country is found in Karnataka,” Patel said in his reply.

As per the directions of Apex Court, mining operations and transportation in Bellary district were suspended till further orders, the minister said.

“On 5th August 2011, the Apex Court permitted two mines of NMDC in the Bellary district to produce iron ore to the extent of one million tones per month commencing from 6th August 2011 till further orders and mining operations have been restrained in 142 mines by Court directions on account of environmental hazard in the State of Karnataka, and 40,000 (estimated) workers have been affected by this ban,” read his reply.

“Further vide directions dated 26th August 2011, mining activities in districts of Tumkur and Chitradurga in Karnataka have also been suspended by the Supreme Court.”