It is reported that Mr R Gokul Deputy Conservator of Forests Karwar has appealed to the Karnataka High Court to direct the Commissioner of Customs Mangalore not to allow export of iron ore from Belekeri, Karwar and Mangalore ports.

An application to this effect was filed before the court by government advocate Mr Raveendra Kolle, on behalf of the IFS officer. The application has been made in pursuant to the orders passed by the High Court on April 19th 2010 and May 20th 2010. It wants export to be disallowed till the investigation is completed in respect of unauthorized shifting of the seized iron of 500,000 tonnes. The application is yet to be admitted by the Court.

The applicant said that on the day of the seizure in Belekeri port, which is an exclusive port for handling ore export, 805,991 tonnes was in the port area. Of this, the exporters who claimed ownership of the ore could produce documents for only 300,000 tonnes. None has claimed the rest of the ore which needs to be probed into.

The DCF said that the writ petitioners appeared to have adopted ingenious modus operandi of shifting the seized iron ore from the safe custody of the Belekeri Port Conservator illegally and unauthorisedly with an ulterior motive of honoring their export commitment causing loss to the state’s exchequer and forest department.

Following the developments, the DCF registered theft and criminal breach of trust case in Ankola police station against Mr Mahesh Beliya and four licensed stevedores and seven exporters traders mining lease holders, who had claimed ownership of the seized ore. After the case was registered, Beliya was suspended. Subsequently, some officers of the Belikeri port filed a complaint with Ankola police regarding theft of the seized ore.

Mr Gokul said that the licensed stevedores who generally act as the facilitator of exports and reportedly exported the seized ore through Karwar or Mangalore port. They may export even the leftover quantity. The Forest Department has no facility to safeguard the seized ore in the port areas.

He further stated that on June 2nd 2010, he had brought this matter to the notice of the Chief Vigilance Commissioner New Delhi and requested to contain the losses.

(Sourced from www.deccanchronicle.com)