August 14,
Officers investigating illegal mining in the State have found documents which suggest that large quantities of Iron ore are being transported to Goa and Andhra Pradesh on goods trains for export on the pretext of taking the consignments to domestic steel plants in these states.
A single goods train with 59 wagons can transport about 3,835 tonnes of ore a trip. It was found that trains are making at least a couple of such trips everyday carrying Iron ore from Bellary district to the neighboring states.
It is also found that permits have been obtained to send the consignments by train to steel plants in Goa or Andhra Pradesh which are usually small and quantity of iron ore transported is quite disproportionate to their requirements.
Once the ore lands in Goa or Andhra Pradesh a fresh permit is taken for export and it is shipped through the ports.
“Bellary district alone has 12 ore loading points next to the railway line. While one loaded train reaches Vishakapattinam through the Bellary-Gunthkal route, the other reaches Goa through Koppal, Hubli, Londa and Castle Rock situated near the Karnataka-Goa border,” the investigating officer said.
Source: Deccan Chronicle
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