Team Herald
PANJIM: The mining truck owners on Wednesday demanded the government to hike the transportation rate. They further demanded reduction of the fitness test fees for trucks which are older than 15 years and to resolve their demands.
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Speaking to reporters, the truck owners narrated the hardships faced by them due to closure of mining activity 10 years ago and urged the government to grant them relaxation by reducing the taxes.
“We are not asking for any package. We want hike in transportation rates so that we can make up for the loss suffered during last 10 years,” they said adding that they had already submitted a representation to the government in this regard.
They appealed to the government to reduce green tax, which according to them, is highest in the State compared to other States. Citing that mining was shut since 2012 with trucks remained unused, they requested the government to reduce the fitness charges for trucks that are more than 15 years and carry forward the road tax.
They said that the annual total fee for fitness certificate and the green tax was about Rs 17,900 in Goa while it was about Rs 1,500 in Karnataka. They said that since most of the trucks remained idle due to halting of mining activity, the government should waive off the fees so that the truck operators could operate them.
They further said that since the government had e-auctioned only four blocks, three in Bicholim taluka and one in Sanguem taluka, there was apprehension in their minds whether all truck could make trips after servicing them.
They also demanded that the government should increase the coal transportation rate before transportation commences.
