Bangalore: Officials of the Belekeri Port near Karwar have allegedly allowed illegal use of a major area of the port by some private firms to export a large quantity of iron ore worth crores of rupees.
According to a preliminary inquiry conducted by the Departments of Public Works, Ports and Inland Water, related documents of which are in possession of The Hindu, officials allowed illegal use of about 72,000 sq m. (approximately 17.7 acres) of the port by three private firms.
The report states: “It is observed that unauthorised development by three agencies has taken place in the Belekri Port with Adani Enterprises Ltd., acquiring 28,500 square metres, Mallikarjun Shipping Private Ltd., acquiring about 22,300 sq. m. and Salgaokar Mining Industries Private Ltd., acquiring 22,000 sq m. without permission.”
These agencies have built jetties and other structures in the illegally occupied areas of the port, the report says.
Photographs of these structures form part of the report. According to government records, these firms were permitted to use only around 10,000 sq. m. area each in the port.
The report further states that “it appears no sincere and concrete efforts are made either by the Port Officer, Karwar, or by the Director, Ports, Karwar, in controlling these unauthorised reclamation, development and regular use of land, amounting to nearly 72,000 sq mt and has resulted in significant loss to the state exchequer.”
The Public Works Department prima facie found Port Director Capt. R. Mohan, Port Officer Capt Swamy, Port Conservator Suresh Shetty and T. Keshava, Administrative Assistance in the office of the Port Director, Karwar, allegedly responsible for these irregularities.
The department’s inquiry findings were submitted to the Government in December 2008, but action had not been taken, official sources said.
The Government had not acted on the department’s recommendation to conduct a full-fledged inquiry into the large-scale irregularities in the port apart from framing charges against port officials for disciplinary inquiry.
The report said the certified copy of the map showing details of land use along with information of allotment to various private agencies was not maintained either in the office of the Port Conservator or office of the Director, Ports, Karwar.
First Published: Friday, July 24, 2009, 09:04