KARWAR: The quiet, healthy rural life has returned to Belekeri village after iron ore exports from Belekeri port were banned last year. The trees and vegetation, which were covered with iron ore dust from thousands of lorries carrying iron ore fines, look lush. Traffic congestion has eased and fewer people complain of breathing problems. The most significant change is that the fisheries port at Belekeri has regained its lost glory. According to Ganapati Banavalikar, president of mechanised boat owners union at Belekeri, not more than 25 boats used to report at the fisheries port when the commercial port was engaged in iron ore exports since most of the labourers preferred the commercial port, where wages were higher. But with the return of the labourers, over one hundred boats arrive at the port with fish hauls every day, Banavalikar says.Shell fish and the mussels were close to extinction while iron ore was being exported. But the fact that about 300 women are engaged in collecting sea shells and mussels everyday indicates the regeneration of these marine species, Banavalikar observes. He points out that each woman earns around `150 a day by collecting these species.Farmers and farm labourers, who had deserted the lands for higher wages at the port and in mine export activities, have returned and farmers are busy tilling their land to grow groundnut as a second crop after paddy.Of course all are not happy with the ban. Many villagers had built houses and shops by raising bank loans and had let them out for rent. Others had bought lorries to transport iron ore fines. A few others earned well by setting up petty shops and restaurants. They are all idle now. “We are worried about repaying our bank loans,” a lorry owner said.
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