Karnataka origin mineral wealth (iron ore) totalling 126 million tonnes was exported from 10 ports located in the southern States from 2006-07 till 2010, said Karnataka Lokayukta in its report. Out of this, export of illicit iron ore of Karnataka origin was 33.1 million tonnes.
The Karnataka Lokayukta, Mr Santosh Hedge, in his report mentions that shipping bills of iron ore exports having Karnataka as the ‘State of origin,' have been taken as the basis for calculating the quantity of iron ore exported from the State.
According to the data seized from computers of Gujarat-based Adani Enterprises Ltd and Goa-based Shree Mallikarjun Shipping Private Ltd , the average per truckload quantity received in Adani plots and Shree Mallikarjun plots in Belekeri port was 20.26 tonnes against the permitted load of 16 tonnes. The data pertains to 2,99,255 trips to Belekeri port between the period October 2009 to May 2010.
The Lokayukta team has assessed that illicit iron ore was transported to ports in excess of permitted quantity and significant quantity of illicit ore might have been transported through vehicles overloading.
“It is pertinent to note that the computed figures point towards large scale transport without any permit or with forged permit in the two years of 2009 and 2010,” the report said. The ports from where iron ore along with quantity have been exported are: Belekeri (Karnataka) 2.03 crore tonnes; Chennai and Ennore (Tamil Nadu) 3.52 crore tonnes; Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh) 81 lakh tonnes; Karwar (Karnataka) 76 lakh tonnes; Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) 2.45 crore tonnes; New Mangalore (Karnataka) 2.92 crore tonnes, and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) 6.24 2.03 lakh tonnes.
Domestic use
The report revealed that permits for domestic destinations increased from 8.85 million tonnes in 2006-07 to 16.8 million tonnes in 2007-08. Thereafter the permits issued for domestic consumption in tonnes remained steady between 16.8 million tonnes and 18.8 million tonnes in 2009-10.
Permits issued for domestic consumption in 2010 (April to July) were 70.6 lakh tonnes. Hence, there were no large fluctuations in permits issued for domestic consumption in the last five years.
Exports continue
The report said: “It is pertinent to note here that due to large scale of exports of illicit iron ore the Karnataka Government took a decision on July 28, 2010 to ban issue of permits to destinations for exports. In that context, exports after this date have been obtained from all the ports and it is found that there 83 consignment were shipped with a total quantity of 1.76 million tonnes of iron ore. Out of this quantity, the maximum exports have taken place from Krishnapatnam port which is administered and managed by a private company ie Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd (KPCL). The quantity exported from this port alone was 1.49 million tonnes. This specific matter requires further investigation for finding out illegalities and persons responsible/behind it.”
Clarification
Meanwhile, Adani Enterprises Ltd in a release to the BSE has said that: “It was one of the four parties providing services as a port operator at Belekeri port”, operating on Government approved charges. It has also clarified that “AEL or any entity in the Adani Group did not own or operate any iron ore mine in Karnataka or any other part of the country.” The company said that “the alleged illegal gratification cannot attributed to AEL who has been a mere port operator.”