New Delhi: The Supreme Court has lifted the ban on iron ore mining in Category A mines in Karnataka  subject to their compliance with statutory clearances. The ban has been lifted for Category A mines  in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts. The forest bench of the Apex Court has lifted the ban  only in 18 Category A mines.

The conditions set forth for lifting ban are approval from the mining department, environmental clearance, pollution clearance from the state pollution control board and an undertaking by the mining lease owners that they will comply with plans towards reclamation of the depleted mines in a time-bound manner.