Team Herald

PONDA: Mining truck owners have decided to demonstrate on February 21 at Azad Maidan, Panjim in demanding continuation of mining in Goa.

The decision on the demonstration was taken on Sunday at a meeting of the truck owners associations, held at Sanjivani Gymkhana Hall, Dayanand Nagar, Dharbandora.

The truck owners said that the demonstration is planned to bring pressure on the State and Central governments to find an early solution to prevent the closure mining from March 16, as directed by Supreme Court of India.

It was also decided to stop all mining and ore transportation on February 21 to facilitate all the truck owners, drivers and the mining dependents to attend the protest at Azad Maidan.

Savordem MLA Deepak Pauskar, who attended the meeting, later said that solution needs to be found continue the mining. “Whatever may be government decision, it should be taken at the earliest since mining dependents are in a panic,” Pauskar added.

After the demonstration, the truck owners said they would submit a memorandum to the chief minister and Central mines minister demanding for continuation of mining in Goa without any interruption or halt in the mining extraction.

Meanwhile, the truck owners have appealed to all the 40 MLAs to support to their demand by keeping aside their political differences.