<p>According to sources in the New Mangalore Port, about 2.3 lakh metric tonnes of iron ore is lying in the New Mangalore Port, ever since the State imposed a ban on shipment of iron ore.<br /><br />The Port could export only 8.38 lakh metric tonne of iron ore in 2010-11, till date (Port could export only till the ban was imposed in July 2010) as against the export of 52 lakh metric tonnes in 2009-10, thus incurring a huge loss to the only major port of Karnataka. For several years, iron ore constituted a major share of the New Mangalore Port’s cargo handling. <br /><br />It may be recalled here that the State government had banned the iron ore’s offshore movement in July 2010 in the wake of widespread allegations of illegal mining, following which the ore was held up in the ports.<br /><br />Out of the 2.3 lakh metric tonnes of iron ore lying in the New Mangalore Port, more than 1.2 lakh metric tonnes belongs to two major exporters while the remaining 1.1 lakh metric tonne belongs to minor exporters, sources said.<br /><br />Thousands hit<br /><br />Meanwhile, M Shekar Poojari, the President for Association of New Mangalore Port Stevedores, said that though the SC ruling is a good news, it will not help minor exporters.<br /><br />Explaining the same, he said several minor exporters have little quantity of iron ore lying in the port, that is, between 1,000 to 10,000 tonnes, which is too less for export.<br /><br />Stating that more than 7,000 workers and 2,300 truckers have been hit hard following the ban, rendering them jobless, he said the Port too incured a huge loss as machineries worth crores of rupees were lying idle all these months.<br /><br /> “If there is any allegation against any particular exporter, why punish everybody?” he questioned and added that the government of Karnataka should take immediate steps to notify the Karnataka Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage of Minerals Rules, though the State has been given time till March 31, 2011.<br /><br />Help farmers<br /><br />The truckers who bring iron ore from North Karnataka, can take back fertilisers, thus helping a large number of farmers in North Karnataka, he suggested.</p>
<p>According to sources in the New Mangalore Port, about 2.3 lakh metric tonnes of iron ore is lying in the New Mangalore Port, ever since the State imposed a ban on shipment of iron ore.<br /><br />The Port could export only 8.38 lakh metric tonne of iron ore in 2010-11, till date (Port could export only till the ban was imposed in July 2010) as against the export of 52 lakh metric tonnes in 2009-10, thus incurring a huge loss to the only major port of Karnataka. For several years, iron ore constituted a major share of the New Mangalore Port’s cargo handling. <br /><br />It may be recalled here that the State government had banned the iron ore’s offshore movement in July 2010 in the wake of widespread allegations of illegal mining, following which the ore was held up in the ports.<br /><br />Out of the 2.3 lakh metric tonnes of iron ore lying in the New Mangalore Port, more than 1.2 lakh metric tonnes belongs to two major exporters while the remaining 1.1 lakh metric tonne belongs to minor exporters, sources said.<br /><br />Thousands hit<br /><br />Meanwhile, M Shekar Poojari, the President for Association of New Mangalore Port Stevedores, said that though the SC ruling is a good news, it will not help minor exporters.<br /><br />Explaining the same, he said several minor exporters have little quantity of iron ore lying in the port, that is, between 1,000 to 10,000 tonnes, which is too less for export.<br /><br />Stating that more than 7,000 workers and 2,300 truckers have been hit hard following the ban, rendering them jobless, he said the Port too incured a huge loss as machineries worth crores of rupees were lying idle all these months.<br /><br /> “If there is any allegation against any particular exporter, why punish everybody?” he questioned and added that the government of Karnataka should take immediate steps to notify the Karnataka Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage of Minerals Rules, though the State has been given time till March 31, 2011.<br /><br />Help farmers<br /><br />The truckers who bring iron ore from North Karnataka, can take back fertilisers, thus helping a large number of farmers in North Karnataka, he suggested.</p>
