Despite warnings, 35 loaded trucks reach Goa
TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
BELGAUM: Tension has prevailed near Kinaye along the Belgaum-Jamboti road and at Khanapur along the Anmod route, when many Goa-bound vehicles belonging to the Goa Horticulture Corporation were blocked by agitating transporters.
According to sources, transporters who are protesting against Goa’s entry tax allegedly deflated the tyres of four tempos of the Goa Horticulture Corporation which were carrying vegetables to Goa near Kinaye at about 11.30 pm on Tuesday.
The situation was equally tense late Wednesday night, when protestors at Jamboti along the Chorla route forced four more Goa Horticulture Corporation vehicles, loaded with vegetables and bound for Goa, to return to Belgaum at about 10.30 pm. The protestors also stopped around 80 Goa-bound vehicles near Khanapur along the Anmod route at about 11.30 pm.
In a further bid to put pressure on transport vehicles plying to Goa, the agitating transporters complained to the RTO that vehicles were found illegally carrying sand towards Goa. Acting on the complaint, the RTO detained around seven Goa-bound vehicles carrying sand on charges of illegally carrying sand.
Determined on their demand for a total roll-back of entry tax by the Goa government, agitating transporters have been camping at Jamboti and Hemmadagga along the Khanapur–Anmod road to block vehicles carrying vegetables and other commodities to Goa.
Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owner’s & Agents Association leader Ramappa P Malenadu, who is camping in Belgaum since Tuesday, condemned the ‘Divide and Rule’ attitude of the Goa government. “Authorities in Goa will have to repent for dirty tactics being played to divide transporters and other associations. Despite all odds, our agitation against the unjust entry tax by Goa will continue,” Ramappa told Herald.
Meanwhile, confusion and anger prevailed at Belgaum wholesale market as some Goa Horticulture Corporation vehicles made it to Goa amidst opposition by transporters.
Members belonging to the Goa wholesale vegetable suppliers association were loading vegetable tempos to Goa despite warning by the agitating transporters. Around 35 trucks containing various vegetables for the Horticulture Corporation arrived in Goa on Wednesday. However the agitating transporters have vowed to block all vehicles carrying vegetables to Goa as they pass Jamboti and other areas from Wednesday midnight.
Goa CM snubs Belgaum MP?
BELGAUM: Is Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar snubbing Rajya Sabha MP from Belgaum and member of the BJP national executive Dr Prabhakar Kore on the vexed Goa entry tax issue?
Dr Kore told Herald that he has been trying to contact Parrikar in connection with the entry tax issue but was unhappy that Parrikar was not responding to his calls. “I have been trying to contact Parrikar since last couple of days but he was not courteous enough in responding to my calls,” said a visibly irritated Dr Kore.
