Belekeri is a village in
Ankola
Ankola is a Town Municipal Council and a taluka in Uttara Kannada district of the Indian state of Karnataka. The name of the place is derived from a forest shrub Ankola grown on the coastal hill side and worshiped by the Halakki Vokkaligas a ...
,
Karnataka
Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, and is known for its fish. It is approximately 6 km from Ankola. Its industrial port is used for shipping
iron ore and
manganese
Manganese is a chemical element with the symbol Mn and atomic number 25. It is a hard, brittle, silvery metal, often found in minerals in combination with iron. Manganese is a transition metal with a multifaceted array of industrial alloy use ...
to various destinations, including China.The port came to a wide media attention due to the
Belekeri port scam
The Belekeri port scam relates to 3.5 million tons of confiscated iron ore that was exported illegally from Belekeri port near Karwar in Karnataka. After Deputy Conservator of Forests R. Gokul seized the ore and the high court refused to permit ...
.
History
Historically, the port was used by the British. The village has ancient historical significance as it houses an inscription which is more than 500 years old. It has Jainabeera temple, which is of a great significance to the villagers.
Belekeri Port
The port is suitable for moderate weathers. If proper improvements are brought about, it can greatly increase its capacity. Government of Karnataka has planned to improve it under Public-Private partnership. Justice Santosh Hegde, the then Lokayukta of Karnataka, is also reported to have expressed his concerns over the illegal activities.
Environmental issues
The export activity caused sufferings to over 3500 people. Fishermen have also expressed concerns over damages to their fishing activities. But, pressures to start the mining and ore-exporting are on the rise in Karnataka.
Beach
Grassy lawns are a common sight. The sunsets are pleasing to the eyes. The place also has hills around. The beach is not far away from other tourist attractions like Gokarna.
The nearest railway station to Belekeri is the Ankola railway station, which is about 11 km away.
See also
*
Mangalore
Mangalore (), officially known as Mangaluru, is a major port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats about west of Bangalore, the state capital, 20 km north of Karnataka–Ke ...
*
Ankola
Ankola is a Town Municipal Council and a taluka in Uttara Kannada district of the Indian state of Karnataka. The name of the place is derived from a forest shrub Ankola grown on the coastal hill side and worshiped by the Halakki Vokkaligas a ...
*
New Mangalore Port
New Mangalore Port is a small water af, all-weather port at Panambur, Mangalore in Karnataka state in India, which is the deepest inner harbour on the west coast. It is the only major port of Karnataka and the seventh largest port in India. I ...
References
Villages in Uttara Kannada district
{{UttaraKannada-geo-stub