Bellary was transformed into a hub of iron ore mining

Mining was driven by soaring demand for iron ore from China

Bellary has 148 vast mining fields spread across 10,598 hectares

Once a verdant landscape, Bellary in Karnataka was transformed into a hub of iron ore mining, driven by soaring demand from China. This transformation is intricately linked to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which spiked global iron ore demand, notably from the dragon nation.

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By the mid-2000s, Bellary’s iron ore exports had surged, with China’s burgeoning need pushing the district’s mining industry into overdrive. Notably, by 2005-06, Bellary’s significance in iron ore production grew as private companies flocked to the region. By 2007, the demand was so high that illegal mining operations began proliferating, causing substantial environmental degradation.

Bellary, known for its vast mining fields—148 mines spread across 10,598 hectares—saw its lush greenery turn to barren wastelands coated in red dust. This environmental toll led the Supreme Court to impose a mining ban in 2011 after a scathing report from the Lokayukta exposed rampant illegal activities.

The state of Karnataka, rich in minerals with 266 mines, 134 of which are in forest areas, faced significant challenges. The Supreme Court’s intervention halted mining and exports to curb the damage. While Bellary’s iron ore reached China’s shores, the district continues to grapple with the environmental scars left by its mining boom.