PONDA: The All Goa Truck Owners’ Association (AGTOA) has said that its members are ready to transport ore at a rate of Rs 11.10 and settle the issue, provided Vedanta meets their two conditions.
AGTOA has also given Vedanta until January 4 to reply, failing which the truckers have threatened to stop ore transportation not only in Codli-Amona, but in the entire North Goa.
On Thursday, AGTOA held a meeting at Usgao to discuss the matter wherein the members unanimously agreed to accept the new rate offered by Vedanta once the company fulfilled their conditions.
It may be recalled that AGTOA, at a meeting with Vedanta officials on Thursday, expressed willingness to transport ore at Rs 11.10, but only if Vedanta withdrew a case against nine truckers and reinstated the services of the trucks owned by AGTOA President Nilkant Gawas.
At Thursday’s meeting, the truckers claimed that Vedanta had filed the case against the nine truck owners, which includes Gawas, as revenge for their agitation. Similarly, they claimed, the trucks of Gawas were used by Vedanta for the last 33 years, but their services were discontinued two months ago allegedly as revenge against him for leading the agitation over the transportation issue.
