State to convene meet of Ports authorities

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to convene a meeting of authorities of Haldia, Vizag and Paradip ports to discuss the issue of illegal transportation of iron ore.  The decision to convene such a meeting has been taken after the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) detected illegal transportation of iron ore from some mines in the State. The State Government, however, maintained that it is not getting the required cooperation in receiving information from the authorities of Haldia and Vizag ports.  Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik told mediapersons here on Saturday that port authorities of Haldia and Vizag are not providing adequate information on export of minerals while Paradip Port Trust has been cooperating. Adequate information is not forthcoming even after the State Government wrote several letters to the two port authorities.  The State Government has also sought intervention of the Cabinet Secretary in this regard, Patnaik said and added the Ministry of Shipping had also asked the port authorities to join the operation against illegal mining and ore transportation. But the two port authorities are yet to heed the order for cooperating with the State Government to prevent such illegal practice, he said.  The Chief Secretary, however, said the Government has been collecting certain information on export of iron ore through Haldia and Vizag ports by engaging its officers. Iron ore from mines in Orissa and Jharkhand is sent to Haldia, Vizag, Paradip and Gangavaram ports for exports.   Meanwhile, the Government has decided to engage the special task force to keep tabs on the amount of iron ore being transported for the purpose of export.