The Hindu : Karnataka News : Illegal storage of iron ore affecting people, says team

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Tuesday, Jan 12, 2010
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Illegal storage of iron ore affecting people, says team

Correspondent

Lokayukta deputes probe team following complaints from residents

Officials take stock of the traffic jam caused by ore-laden lorries
Residents say ore exporters flouting norms with support of politicians

Karwar: A team deputed by the Lokayukta to investigate the complaints about illegal storage of iron ore on Sunday visited Karwar on Sunday and found that the local residents have been suffering owing to the illegal storage of iron ore in the area.

Residents of Aligadda, Baithkol and Karwar port area and some social organisations complained to Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde during his visit to Karwar last week.

A team of officials, headed by Udayaveer Singh, Conservator of Forests, Dharwad; and Uday Kumar, Dharwad District Water Resources Officer; inspected the iron ore storage sites to verify the allegations of illegal storage of ore. The team recorded the statement of the residents living in the vicinity where the iron ore was illegally stored. The team also visited the area where the drinking water wells were allegedly polluted by the iron ore. The residents gave the team information about the damage caused to their houses when a nearby hill was blasted to store the ore.

The officers also took stock of the traffic jam caused by the ore-laden lorries on the national highway.

The residents alleged that iron ore exporters, backed by some local politicians, were openly flouting the guidelines issued by the government and courts and no action was being initiated by the authorities concerned.

Later addressing presspersons, Mr. Udayaveer Singh said the team would submit a report to the Lokayukta for further action. He said the team experienced the traffic jams caused by the ore-laden lorries. “Prima facie it appears that the law has been violated by the exporters and the authorities while storing the iron ore in residential areas.” He said the team noticed that about 70 to 80 lorries were parked on the roadside for every kilometre on a 15-km stretch.

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