The Hindu : NMP to adhere to BJP's demand on iron ore export

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 18, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mangalore

NMP to adhere to BJP's demand on iron ore export

By Our Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE, JAN. 17. The New Mangalore Port (NMP) authorities have "orally" agreed to adhere to the demands put forth by the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Suratkal Assembly Constituency Committee pertaining to the export of iron ore fines from the port.

The party, which launched an agitation in this regard, has temporarily suspended it for a week to give time for the authorities to comply with the demands.

Ganesh Hosabettu, President of the committee, told presspersons here on Friday that the BJP had not withdrawn the agitation. The NMP had agreed to set up a monitoring committee comprising party representatives, people, and officials to monitor the handling and dispatch of iron ore fines from the port, he said. Mr. Hosabettu said the NMP was taken aback by the protest launched by the BJP workers in front of its administrative office at Panambur near here on Thursday, and added that the acting Chairman of the port, G.J. Rao, had heard the protesters and agreed to comply with their demands. The BJP had given the NMP a week's time to implement the demands before resorting to an alternate course of action, including agitation. Mr. Ganesh said the demands acceded to by the NMP included permitting lorries loaded with iron ore fines to exit from the main gate. The lorry drivers had been told to cover the consignment with tarpaulin and sprinkle water on it to prevent dust from being blown about by the wind. He said the port authorities had also agreed to ban the movement of lorries on the road leading to Kurikatta Gate from Bykampady on National Highway 17 as the iron ore dust could cause irreparable damage to marine life, thereby affecting the livelihood of fishermen residing there. The NMP had also agreed to set up a weighbridge on the harbour premises. The other demands acceded to by the NMP included sprinkling of water along NH 17 between Bykampady and Panambur to prevent dust from rising, setting up of Sulabh toilets for the lorry crew with assistance from the district administration, stopping dumping of iron ore, and imposing a ban on parking of lorries outside the port premises. The BJP would monitor these assurances over the next week, he said. The BJP's aim was to ensure that the people of the area did not suffer health hazards on account of transportation and export of iron ore fines from the NMP, Mr. Hosabettu said.

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