PONDA: The mining truck owners are hopeful of getting a hike in ore transportation rates when they meet Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday.
At a meeting held on Sunday, Savordem MLA Deepak Pauskar informed the truck owners that last week he had put forth before Parrikar, the difficulties faced by them due to the rising inflation and hike in various taxes on trucks. “I hope that a suitable solution on rate hike for ore transportation per km per tonne will come out at the meeting of truck owners with Parrikar, scheduled on Monday at Panajim,” he said.
Truck owners’ leader Balaji Gawas hoped that the chief minister, PWD minister and the local MLA would help the truck owners in finding a solution to rate hike imbroglio.
On the occasion, Gawas appealed to the truck owners not to be carried away by false assurances of some mining company officials who, he alleged, are trying to create a divide among the truck owners on issue of ore transportation.
Gawas has been demanding that rate for ore transpiration be hiked to Rs 14-15 per tonne per km, while All Goa Truck Owners Association President Nilkant Gawas is hoping for a hike of minimum Rs 20 per tonne per km. Last year, truckers transported ore at Rs 12.33 per tonne per km.
Dabal Panch Mohan Gaonkar said that huge fund is accumulated with government for the welfare of mining affected people and that government should utilize it for their welfare.
The meeting on Sunday was held at Kodli Ganesh Mandal Hall and the same was attended by Balaji Gawas, Sakorda Sarpanch Jeetendra Naik, Kirlapal Panch Mohan Gaonkar, Collem Sarpanch Gangaram Lombor, Panch Machindra Desai, Yogesh Bandodkar, Vallab Dalvi of Sesa Goa Association and truck owners.
