Following the Lok Ayukta report which hinted at Goa ports being used to funnel Karnataka iron ore, Goa government said that they have a full proof system in place to ensure that the state ports don't become outlets for illegal ore exports.

Goa Mines and Geology department officials said the origin of the ore extracted has been regularly checked after Karnataka banned export of iron ore.

Mr Hectar Fernandes senior geologist of Goa Mines and Geology department said that "The NOCs are not issued till the exporter produces the proof of the origin of the ore. He has to pay royalty on the extraction, which can be paid only through legal mines.”

The investigations by Karnataka Lokayukta had revealed that it was difficult to estimate quantity of ore from Karnataka exported through Goa's two ports Mormugao Port Trust and Panaji Minor Port.

It is pointed out in the report that the shipping bills of MPT were both manual and electronic and large part of manual billings were not available.

Mr Fernandes said that "That was before Goa government put in the system in place. Since October 2010, we have been insisting for NOC before the ship leaves the port.”

Mr Fernandes said that Panaji port was the first one to implement mandatory NOC clause and later in January 2011, MPT too began insisting for the certificates, adding that it is a full proof system to avoid revenue leakage and curb illegal exports.

Goa exported 54 million tonnes of ore during last fiscal of which only 45 million tonnes was registered with the Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association a body of the exporters.

GMOEA secretary Mr Glenn Kalavampara said GMOEA has put in a system wherein the trader has to produce letter from the mine owner proving the origin of the ore.

(Sourced from www.dnaindia.com)