Vigilance detects illegal stock of mineral

The vigilance department in a surprise check along with officials of mining and commercial tax department, found that a firm using the railway siding to illegally transport iron ore to Paradip Port.

"It is learnt that M/s Serajuddin company is transporting/dispatching iron ore from Haridaspur railway siding to Paradip Port through M/s Yazdani International, which is a subsidiary of M/s Serajuddin company," said director of vigilance, Anup Kumar Patnaik.

Stating that Haridaspur railway station siding was not an authorised stock dumping yard, Patnaik said that the entire transportation of iron ore from Joda in mineral rich Keonjhar district to Haridaspur and from there to Paradip was done by Balabantaray Transport.

"All records of transportation from Joda and from Haridaspur is maintained by Balabantray Transport," Patnaik said.

Recently, the vigilance director said that the deputy director of mines, Joda has issued an order mentioning the names of 20 companies and requested Paradip Port authorities not to receive transportation of iron ore from these companies.

However, the original company could manage to export iron ore though Paradip Port by using names of other subsidiary companies, Patnaik pointed out.