ET reported that Mr Ram Vilas Paswan union minister for steel, chemicals and fertilizers called for a ban on high grade iron ore export to help the cause of the country’s dwindling steel industry.

The move is aimed at promoting domestic steel consumption and ensuring that ore is used to cater to local demand first, and only the surplus is exported.

He said that “If this export continues, we will soon be forced to import iron ore and steel from other countries.”

Expressing hope that the government would shortly take a balanced decision on the issue in the national interest, Mr Paswan said iron ore, a natural resource, should be preserved.

He said that “Of the total reserves of 25 billion tonne, that India has, a very small quantity makes for high-grade ore which cannot be exported on a large scale.”