Exporters are diverting the ore to ports away from Mangalore and Karwar to avoid the authorities’ questioning.
Suspecting huge diversion of iron ore illegally mined from Bellary and other parts of Karnataka, the Lokayukta officials conducted a massive raid at Belikeri port about 90 km from Karwar on Saturday.
Though Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde was not available for comment, the Lokayukta officials said that the raid was conducted based on information that the illegal mine owners from Bellary and the surrounding areas were trying to export iron ore through the Belikeri port to avoid detection by authorities. “If exported through Karwar and Mangalore, they will be caught and penalised and cases will be booked against them. The diversion to Belikeri port was aimed at avoiding this legal action,” Lokayukta sources said.
Lokayukta sources also indicated that the raids were conducted in continuation of the notices issued to various mining companies which were suspected to have been allegedly indulging in illegal mining of iron ore and manganese in Bellary district and even from other parts of the state. “We had definite information about the iron ore being diverted to other ports within Karnataka which included the Belikeri port. There is strict vigil at the Mangalore and Karwar ports. The diversion of iron ore to other ports is to avoid taxes and other charges the government imposed on mining companies,” said a Lokayukta source.
The raid also comes after several active anti-mining groups based in the coastal districts brought to the notice of the authorities the massive diversion of funds, misappropriation, destruction of the natural resources and losses to the state exchequer. The Lokayukta had earlier issued notices to the mining companies operating from Belikeri port.
A team of four Lokayukta officials from Bangalore under the leadership of the chief conservator of forest (CCF) UV Singh, Lokayukta deputy superintendent of police Prabhudeva Manehave and others, confiscated 12 computers of various companies that were engaged in the export of manganese and iron ore to China.
These computers will be taken back to Bangalore where their hard disks will be analysed by officials of both the Lokayukta and the finance department. In the team were Lokayukta inspectors Dinesh Kumar, R Harapanahalli, Gangadharappa and Ravikumar.
There are also large companies legally operating from the Belikeri port like Salgaoncars Goa, Adoni Mining Company Adoni, Mallikarjuna Shipping Company, and Rajmohan and Co. The investigations will continue for the next couple of days and it would be too early to cast aspersions on any company just yet, he added.
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