Our Bureau

Mangalore , Nov. 21

NEW Mangalore Port, which is getting a considerable amount of iron ore cargo from Bellary-Hospet region, will hold a trade meet at Hospet in Bellary district on Tuesday.

Mr Tamil Vanan, Chairman of New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), who informed newspersons about the capital and maintenance dredging activities here on Monday, said that iron ore is one of the important export commodities of the port. Members of mining associations and officials of the NMPT and the Railways will participate in the trade meet.

He said that though there was a lull in iron ore export after the monsoon, the activity has picked up again. The recent strike of iron ore lorry operators was one of the reasons for the lull in the export activities.

Some organisations in Karnataka had opposed the movement of ore cargo in lorries on the grounds that the movement of overloaded lorries would damage the road network.

Mr Vanan said that the Hassan-Mangalore railway line, which is likely to be completed by December-end, would give a boost to the transportation of iron ore from the Bellary-Hospet mines. Transportation of iron ore through the railway network will also be cheaper (Currently, most of the mine owners transport ore in lorries.)

Mr Vanan said that the port handles around 3.9 million tonnes (mt) of iron ore cargo till November 20 this fiscal as against 3 mt in the year-ago period. In 2004-05, the port handled 5.58 mt of iron ore fines and lumps against 1.67 mt in 2003-04.

He said that the port is also strengthening the railway network at the marshalling yard inside the port at a cost of Rs 6 crore. There will be five new lines at the marshalling yard to handle iron ore, fertilisers, coal and container cargo.

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