NGO hails CBI probe into illegal ore export

The govt seeks action against over 700 officials named in the Lokayukta report

The National Committee For Protection of Natural Resources, the NGO which has been spearheading a campaign against illegal mining and land grab in Karnataka, has welcomed the state's decision to hand over the probe into illegal exports of iron ore through seven ports to the CBI. While the government has handed over to the CBI for investigation and prosecution, it has also sought action against more than 700 officials named in the Lokayukta report.

Speaking to reporters in Dharwad, NCPNR founder president S R Hiremath stated this is a bold decision on the part of the cabinet in terms of holding the powerful and mining mafia in the worst mining scam in the country.

He said, significant quantities of illicit ore, nearly 30 mn tn, were exported from the seven ports. From Belekeri port 7.74 million tonne of ore, from Ennore in Chennai 4.5 mn tn of ore, from Kakinada 1.7 mn tn of ore, from Karwar 986,000 tn of ore, from Krishnapatnam 11.1 mn tonnes of ore, from Mangalore 6.65 million tonne of ore, from Vishakhapatnam 300,000 tonnes of ore have been exported to different countries.

A total of 33.1 million tonnes of ore was exported, of which 29.8 million tonne of illicit ore was exported, he alleged. This has caused over Rs 16,000 crore loss to the exchequer, he said.

These facts have been covered in the Lokayukta report-II dated July 27, 2011. More heads are likely to roll during the CBI probe into the illicit export of ore, he said.