Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 17: A division bench of the state high court, on July 9, 2010, had banned export of iron ore from Mangalore, Karwar and Belekeri ports till further orders. The state government had filed an affidavit in the High Court, duly confirming that export of ore has been banned as per the court directions. But the reality is different.

Violating ban on movement of ore-laden trucks on the roads of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts, ore continues to come into the port. On July 12, a ship carrying about 60,000 tonnes of ore set sail to a port in China. Another Chinese ship is being loaded with iron ores since Thursday July 15 at the local airport. The confiscation of four iron trucks by the revenue department therefore, appears to be only the tip of the iceberg.

District deputy commissioner, V Ponnuraj, has said that the departments have been given strict instructions to stop the movement of ore trucks, and that clarification from the mines and geology department has been sought about the enforcement of ban on issuance of fresh permits. The officials of the local port say they have not received any written instructions to enforce ban on exports. They claim that they have taken care to ensure that ore is not exported by any of the ten companies whose names were forwarded to the port authorities by the forest department, alleging their involvement with irregularities in Belekeri port. They assert that only the ore that gets customs clearance is being exported from here.