Team Herald
VASCO: The All Goa Lorry Owners Association, the Transport Association, and the Tipper Truck Associations staged a protest on Wednesday against the awarding of transportation contracts to outsiders at the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA).
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The protestors claimed that outsourcing transportation was depriving locals of livelihood opportunities and causing significant revenue losses to the State government.
All Goa Lorry Owners Association President Shrikant Chari criticised the company handling the wood chip cargo, which, according to him, had only arrived at the MPA after eight years, and accused it of neglecting local transporters.
Chari said that although they were pleased the MPA had secured new cargo, they were disappointed because 99 per cent of the transporters appointed were from other States. He pointed out that the government’s slogan, “Vocal for Local,” had been ignored, and Goan transporters had been sidelined.
Chari also noted that other ports, such as Mangalore and Jaigarh, had regulations in place that provided 100 per cent preference for local transporters. He called for similar regulations to be implemented at the MPA.
Chari further pointed out that Rule 145 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1991, mandates that transportation agents must be registered in Goa, but transporters from other States had failed to comply. He stated that this non-compliance was resulting in losses to the State exchequer, as these transporters were not paying local taxes or GST.
Another local transporter, Wasim Shaikh, said that despite submitting quotations in consultation with all stakeholders, the company had never responded and had started transportation with 30 transporters from other States. He added that the company was also trying to appoint 20 more transporters, and if this trend continued, it would spell disaster for Goan transporters.
Hemant Shetgaonkar of the Tipper Truck Association warned that transporters would be forced to protest on the streets if they continued to be deprived of business.
The protestors have now decided to meet Chief Minister Pramod Sawant again to demand that maximum business at Mormugao Port be reserved for Goans.
