TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Around 100 villagers from Balli, Fatorpa, Quitala and Cuncolim staged a rasta-rako at Balli demanding that movement of trucks transporting bauxite be monitored and restricted.
Bali Sarpanch Alka Podar, Fatorpa sarpanch Sangel Fernandes and former minister Prakash Velip were also present.
According to Margao DySP Mohan Naik, the villagers were aggrieved after the incident, wherein on June 2, at about 8.45 pm, truck – GA-02-T 9722, driven by Ramkailash Buid a native of Uttar Pradesh and residing at Agalli-Margao, when proceeding from Balli to Fatorpa, knocked down an oncoming motorcycle – GA-090C-4298, injuring rider Pundalik Khale, resident of Colamba-Sanguem. The locals were further infuriated because the driver fled from the scene without providing first aid to the victim or informing the authorities. The Cuncolim police registered a case of rash and negligent driving endangering human life against Buid.
Protesting villagers demanded that timing be imposed for movement of trucks, more so with schools commencing from June 4, to avert accidents. They demanded that authorities impose a ban on truck movement in the morning when schools start and in the afternoon at the time when schools end for the day. Further, the villagers demanded that there should be a complete stop to movement of trucks transporting bauxite on Sundays. Authorities present explained that they could approach the south Goa collector with a memorandum of their demands for a notification to be issued for imposing the ban.
