Wants 24-hour ore transportation
PANJIM, AUG 11
The mining truck owners today objected to the timing restrictions on ore transportation stating that the state government should stop the illegal mining rather than harassing the truck operators.
The mining truck owners from across the state, who met today at Hotel Mandovi formed a nine member All Goa Mining Truck Owners Association (AGMTOA), which is likely to meet Chief Minister Digamber Kamat tomorrow over the High Court order.
The High Court in its order in April has said that the ore transportation in the state will take place only between 8am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm. The timings are already applicable to south Goa mining truck owners, while in case of North Goa the matter is still pending.
“It will better if the government tries to control the increasing number of illegal mines in our state rather then harassing us,” AGMTOA, president Nilkhant Gawas told reporters.
Gawas pointed out that mining is the only livelihood of the people leaving in Bicholim and Sattari areas as the agricultural fields there are destroyed.
“Agriculture, which was our livelihood, is shattered and our children are not able to get jobs in city areas. We have no other option then mining,” he stated.
Gawas alleged that the state government has no control over illegal mines, which are mushrooming throughout Goa.
The association also demanded that the government should allow 24-hours ore transportation. “Our tucks or business is not illegal…we have permits…no rule restricting us to a particular timing…we pay tax for 24-hours transportation,” association’s joint secretary Ulhas Gawade said.
The Association is soon going to file Public Interest Litigation challenging High Court’s order. “The timing restrictions will also result into overloading, traffic conjestions which in turn can result into accidents,” he said.
