MONDAY, MAY 06, 2024
Team Herald
BICHOLIM: Bicholim police on Monday arrested around 35 Surla villagers in Bicholim for blocking mining trucks of a company demanding to engage local trucks in transportation of mineral ore.
According to police, some of the truck owners from Surla were up in arms against the mining company for not employing their trucks but instead using the company’s trucks for transportation of mining dump.
Villagers under the banner Surla First Association halted the mining trucks at the exit gate and told that they will not allow company’s mode of transport.
They demanded that their trucks should be given chance to operate instead of company’s trucks.
“There are about 50 truck owners in Surla who are totally dependent upon the mining business. Since last three to four years, we have been asking the company to provide us some work at the plant but every time they gave us some unclear answers,” said Bhaundas Sonnaik.
“We are waiting for the company to engage our trucks but instead they used their own big trucks for the work. The company just gave us hope and nothing happened. Last week, we halted their transport and within no time the police arrived at the scene and told us to discuss and resolve the issue,” Sonnaik added.
According to the truck owners, they had a short meeting with the company officials but the company denied giving work to the local truck owners.
“It is we who are suffering because of the dust pollution and if we are not given work then what is the use of mining for us?,” the truck owners questioned.
The truck owners approached the local panch and also met the Chief Minister and when nothing fruitful came out from the meetings, they decided to halt the mining ore transportation again on Monday.
The police told the agitating truck owners to clear the roads but when they refused the police arrested them.
Till late evening, the truck owners were in the police station. Meanwhile, the Congress has extended their support to the agitation.
