Photo is Old Portary Old. Stick to Greece in | Photo credit: ANY HS HS
In order to handle export of iron ore from smaller ports in Karnataka, the state government on Thursday approved the Karnataka Iron Ore Handling Policy 2025 for handling iron ore through non-major ports under the Karnataka Maritime Board.
Amid widespread violations in iron ore mining and illegal export of large quantities of iron ore, the state government in 2010 banned the export of iron ore from 10 major ports under the Karnataka Ports (Landing and Shipping Charges) Act, 1961. However, in 2022, the Supreme Court allowed these exports of iron from the Indian government strictly as per the Government of India. He allowed the export of iron ore through ports in Karnataka, as is done in the rest of the country.
“This policy is standard operating procedure for export of iron ore from these ports. The policy will come into effect prospectively. Since a number of cases are pending in courts and the Lokayukta report, it cannot be implemented retrospectively,” Minister for Law and Parliament HK Patil explained at a post-cabinet briefing.
Order from 2010
Priver, Tadadi, Batkal, Malpe, Maglore, In all, Parnaka 13 major ports.
Incidentally, Belekeri port grabbed headlines during the peak of illegal iron ore shipping and export as several lakh tonnes of seized iron ore was reported as ‘missing’, which also figured in the Lokayukta report. It was believed that with the approval of the officials, the iron ore was in fact exported.
Income generation
According to the cabinet note, the policy would generate revenue for the government through registration fees, license fees (for allotment of land for iron ore handling), wharfage fees, minimum security deposits, security deposits, penalties for non-compliance or deficiencies and a recurring pollution abatement, safety and surveillance charge of ₹13 per tonne.
Published – 27 Nov 2025 20:33 IST
