The Supreme Court will start proceedings in the case against some companies involved in the illegal transportation and export of iron and manganese ore from Belekeri Port near Karwar on Friday.
Founder chairman of National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR) S R Hiremath stated that during the proceedings, a few more skeletons are likely to tumble out of the cupboard. Four major mineral export companies operating from Belekere port are involved in the large quantum of illegal export of ore to Singapore, Hong Kong and other nations.
A nexus between government officials, politicians and mining barons has resulted in the illegal export of ore to other countries and the NCPNR has already furnished the details to the CEC, Hiremath said. As per a survey, it was said that 800,000 tonnes of ore seized by the DCF of Karwar was kept at the Belekeri port. However, of the seized ore, 500,000 tonnes of ore was stolen and exported to other countries. From October 2009 to February 2010, 3.5 million tonne of ore was transported through sea without permit, Hiremath alleged.
Now, the officials of the Mines and Geology department have disclosed that the seized ore was 900,000 tonnes and 700,000 tonnes were stolen from the port. Besides, 4.6 million tonnes were illegally transported in just five months. This has caused a huge loss to the state exchequer. The NCPNR has already provided all the details to the CEC which will be produced before the Supreme Court on September 7, he added.
Former minister G Janardhan Reddy who has been nailed in illegal mining is also involved in owning an illegal transportation company which has transported ore from Bellary to Belekere. Not to be left behind,
Member of Rajya Sabha Anil Lad, wife of Reddy Aruna Laxmi, MLA B Sriramulu and many other politicians from Bellary are also involved in illegal transportation of ore, Hiremath alleged.
“The NCPNR has complete faith in the judiciary and the Apex Court is likely to give a historic decision on Friday,” he added.
