Daijiworld Media Network – Karwar (SP)

Karwar, Feb 9: In a surprise raid conducted at Belekeri port area near Ankola in the district on the evening of Tuesday February 8, a team of forest officials led by special inquiry officer, Takat Singh Ranavat, confiscated 80,000 metric tonnes of iron ore.

The officials have put the value of the confiscated ore at Rs 25 crore. As this valuation has been done at the rate prevailing in the past, they have estimated the present market price of the same at Rs 50 crore.

On March 20, 2010, officials of the forest department had registered cases against 12 iron ore companies for exporting iron ore worth Rs 200 crore from Belekeri port illegally. This case had drawn nationwide attention. The exporters had filed a writ petition in the circuit bench of the High Court in Dharwad on November 2, 2010, seeking a stay on the proceedings. The court, through an order dated January 29, 2011, cleared the decks for the action by the forest department.

Ranavat said that the operation was conducted on the basis of a copy of the court order obtained from its website, although the department is yet to get a certified copy of the same. He also said that the port officials at Belekeri have failed to give information about the ownership details of this ore. Ankola range forest officer, Aziz, has been appointed as nodal officer for keeping track of the confiscated ore.