Odisha reiterates demand to ban iron ore export

November 16th, 2011 - 7:53 pm ICT by IANS  

Manmohan Singh Bhubaneswar, Nov 16 (IANS) Reiterating its earlier demand, Odisha Wednesday sought a complete ban on iron ore export from India.

“A ban on the export of iron should be imposed immediately,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“This will not only bring down domestic prices of iron ore but also encourage local industries to invest in technologies to utilize the iron ore fines presently being exported, besides ensuring that mining activities are regulated and sustainable,” Patnaik wrote.

He said the ban on export is also necessary as the demand for steel and its production in the country are expected to grow at an annual rate of 10 percent or more on the average in the coming year.

“There is thus a need for having a long-term strategy for conservation of the finite iron ore resources to meet the future requirements of our country,” Patnaik said in the letter, a copy of which is with IANS.

Patnaik had earlier demanded a ban on iron ore export while participating in the National Development Council meeting chaired by Manmohan Singh in New Delhi Oct 22.

Odisha has more than 35 percent of India’s iron ore resources with an estimated 5,230 million tonnes of iron ore.

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