The Centre on Thursday rejected demand for ban on iron ore export, but promised that stringent steps will be initiated to curb illegal mining. During the debate on illegal mining in the Rajya Sabha, the mining activities in Karnataka were brought to focus by several members, including TDP Rajya Sabha MP Mysura Reddy. Mines minister B.K. Handique expressed the hope that the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act 2010 will tackle the problem of illegal mining and ensure holistic approach in grant of mineral licenses. "Merely because state governments are not able to prevent and stop illegal mining, we should not ban export of iron ore," Mr Handique said. The problem of illegal mining, which is growing in alarming proportion in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand, is a problem of governance, he said. "Rather banning export of iron ore, we need to see there is no illegal production of iron ore," the minister said.