<p>Even after the Karnataka ban on iron ore exports on July 28, 2010, several companies continued to illegally ship off ore, says the Lokayukta report. Among these was Sesa Goa, the country’s leading producer and exporter of iron ore.<br /><br />The Vedanta-owned Sesa, which has mining interests in Karnataka, offloaded 60,500 metric tonnes (MT) of iron ore on the M V Nava Eliza through Krishnapatnam port on August 10, 2010, and again another 15,000 MT three days later.<br /><br />Of the 17,58,336 MT illegally exported after the ban, the privately run Krishnapatnam port alone accounted for 14,85,076 MT, the report says.<br /><br />Also indicted in the report is another lead Goan company Salgaocar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd owned by independent MLA Anil Salgaocar. One of the four lease holders and service providers for Belekeri port with Shree Mallikarjun Shipping, Adani Enterprises and Raj Mahal Silks, the Lokayukta said the four companies “have been found to be actively involved in large scale illegal exports of iron ore causing huge loss to the government.”<br />It recommended that their leases be cancelled and action be taken against them.<br /><br />“People not involved are being dragged into this report by Justice Hegde. We only handled our own cargo at the port. Let them follow the procedure of law and take action against me,” Salgaocar told Deccan Herald. One-third of the Goan industrialist’s mining interests are based in Hospet in recent years.<br /><br />From 2006 onwards 77,38,169 MT was illegally exported through Belekeri, with a record-breaking 11,59,441 MT being illegally sent out from this port in just two months between 2010-11, the report said. It recommended that the port with inadequate infrastructure and poor security be shut down till it is raised to the standard of ports managed by the Centre.<br /></p>
<p>Even after the Karnataka ban on iron ore exports on July 28, 2010, several companies continued to illegally ship off ore, says the Lokayukta report. Among these was Sesa Goa, the country’s leading producer and exporter of iron ore.<br /><br />The Vedanta-owned Sesa, which has mining interests in Karnataka, offloaded 60,500 metric tonnes (MT) of iron ore on the M V Nava Eliza through Krishnapatnam port on August 10, 2010, and again another 15,000 MT three days later.<br /><br />Of the 17,58,336 MT illegally exported after the ban, the privately run Krishnapatnam port alone accounted for 14,85,076 MT, the report says.<br /><br />Also indicted in the report is another lead Goan company Salgaocar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd owned by independent MLA Anil Salgaocar. One of the four lease holders and service providers for Belekeri port with Shree Mallikarjun Shipping, Adani Enterprises and Raj Mahal Silks, the Lokayukta said the four companies “have been found to be actively involved in large scale illegal exports of iron ore causing huge loss to the government.”<br />It recommended that their leases be cancelled and action be taken against them.<br /><br />“People not involved are being dragged into this report by Justice Hegde. We only handled our own cargo at the port. Let them follow the procedure of law and take action against me,” Salgaocar told Deccan Herald. One-third of the Goan industrialist’s mining interests are based in Hospet in recent years.<br /><br />From 2006 onwards 77,38,169 MT was illegally exported through Belekeri, with a record-breaking 11,59,441 MT being illegally sent out from this port in just two months between 2010-11, the report said. It recommended that the port with inadequate infrastructure and poor security be shut down till it is raised to the standard of ports managed by the Centre.<br /></p>
