The Hindu reported that half of the iron ore seized by the Forest Department officials in Belekeri port was exported out of the country creating new problems for the Forest and the Port Department officials. After much furore, the Commissioner of Customs issued the order to stop loading of the ore into the barges and the ship to stop further export of the seized iron ore.

A team of Forest Department officials led by Karwar Deputy Conservator of Forest had seized about 550,000 tonnes of the iron ore estimated at INR 165 crore from Karwar and Belekeri ports.

According to the Forest Department officials, the ore was seized because it was brought to the port premises by using the fake permits. The Forest Department had even filed an FIR against the Conservator of Ports for hiding facts and taking the ore with fake permits inside the port premises.

In a counter offensive, the Department of Ports had accused the Forest Department officials of allowing the ore with fake permits pass through the forest checkposts of four districts and making the port authorities a scapegoat. The port authorities had made it clear that they were not authorised to stop the export and unless Forest Department officials give the plot and ownership details of the seized cargo they could not take the responsibility of the seized ore.

A Forest Department official, on condition of anonymity, said that the officials were under pressure to end the matter there itself. He added that "We are under tremendous pressure to submit the inquiry report immediately and declare the seized ore as genuine one. Already half of the seized ore has been shipped out. Now we have no option but to show the newly arrived ore in the port as seized one to maintain the quantity. It may be counter productive as many exporters are against it and insisting that their cargo should not be shown as seized one because it may lead to litigation and affect their business. So the department has no option but to back tack on the issue."

(Sourced from www.thehindu.com)