MARGAO: Margao Salcete Truck Owners Association on Wednesday slammed Congress leaders for demanding a ban on coal in Vasco and while reiterating that there was no pollution caused by coal transportation, asked the Congress Party to instead stop casinos and other evils plaguing Goa.

Briefing media persons, Association President Franky Gomes said there was no pollution caused by coal in Mormugao and that the truck owners are not responsible for the pollution if any caused.

He said the trucks go in the yard, get thoroughly washed and after loaded with coal are covered so that there is no spillage or any dust pollution. However, he admitted that the bad condition of roads at times does result in coal pieces and coal dust slipping on the roadside.

Refusing to accept the Pollution Control Board’s findings that there is pollution at the port due to coal handling, he said it was for the Mormugao Port Trust to find a solution to this problem in consultation with all the stakeholders.

“After mining stopped we were facing starvation and now every two months we get to ply our trucks for about 25 days and why are the Congress leaders demanding a ban on coal which would throw us on the streets,” he said.

Condemning Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar, Pradesh Mahila Congress President Pratima Coutinho and Leader of Opposition Babu Kavlekar for their statement on coal pollution, Franky said they would be taught a befitting lesson at the next elections.

“The Congress would do well to realize that it is a matter of Goans’ livelihood and not a mere election gimmick that they have converted it into,” he said pointing out that the truck owners are suffering because of the Congress that was responsible to stopping mining in Goa.

Franky was accompanied by Vallabh Varad, the Association’s treasurer, who said truck owners in Sanguem and the mining belt today find it even difficult to pay the admission fees and other expenses of their children’s education.

He said only around 200 trucks are engaged in transporting coal from the port to Sao Jose de Areal or Sanguem where the factories using coal as raw material are operating.