The forest department on Wednesday had confiscated 28,400 cubic metres of illegal iron ore stock piles brought to the Belikeri port for shipping out of the country, without export permit.
The forest department on Wednesday had confiscated 28,400 cubic metres of illegal iron ore stock piles brought to the Belikeri port for shipping out of the country, without export permit. Alert officials swooped down on the stockpile at the port and sealed it.For the second time, the mining lords have been caught. The first time the government had banned ore exports from the state, and, with the latest haul, there could be a mining muddle once again raising questions as to how the mining companies were using Karnataka ports for exporting iron ore without valid documents.
The seized iron ore belonged to Adani Enterprises and Mallikarjun Shipping Private Limited.
Investigating officer Takath Singh Ranavath said, “The companies did not have valid documents. The total value of the seized stockpile of iron ore at Belikeri port has risen from Rs250 crore to Rs302 crore since March 18, 2010. The forest department has no jurisdiction inside the port and so cannot confiscate any goods. We’ll raise the issue at the inter-departmental co-ordination meeting.”
Ranavath disputed the ports’ department version. He said, “The jurisdictional court at Hubli has sent a clear order that the FIR filed by the forest department was valid. A leave petition filed by the companies against the department’s action on March 20 last has also been cleared.”
The CID team headed by superintendent of police (CID) KP Bheemaiah and deputy SP Muddu Mahadevaiah on Friday held discussions with the port officials. Source said the CID team has sternly warned the officials not to allow any export of ore without legal papers.
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