[ferro-alloys.com] According to sources, the CBI investigating the illegal expert of 50 lakh metric tonnes of iron ore from theBelekeri port has found evidence of the ore being exported to Pakistan.

While no records have been found at the port itself of the transaction, the Pakistani government has documents to prove it , they reveal. The investigation has found that 78,910 tonnes of iron ore were exported to Pakistan Steel, a public sector unit in Karachi, through middlemen in Dubai. Two shiploads left Belekeri for Karachi in December 2009 and January 2010 with a Mumbai company, Twenty First Century Wire Rods Limited, which has an office in Sadashivnagar in Bengaluru, facilitating the exports via the Alsaa Petroleum and Shipping Company of Dubai.

The first consignment of 39,240 tonnes of ore landed in Karachi on December 10, 2009 and the second of 39,240 tonnes arrived there on January 9, 2010, going by Pakistani records.

It appears the exports were made possible due to lax security at the port although it is located near sensitive defense and nuclear establishments like the Seabird Naval Base and Kaiga Nuclear Power Station.

The CBI has found that unlike Mangalore port, Belekeri port did not have the Coast Guard or a watchtower to keep an eye on illegal activities.

Sources added that “Iron ore lobbies from Bellary and politicians from Karwar foiled attempts to stop illegalities at the port and ensured that those at the helm of affairs turned a blind to them.”

Source - www.asianage.com