PONDA: The All Goa Truck Owners’ Association (AGTOA) is willing to compromise on the issue of ore transportation rates and has already put forward a proposal to the government and mining companies. The proposal states that the truckers will settle for a rate of Rs 11.27 and bear the cost of maintaining their vehicles, while the government should provide diesel grants to them. If the proposal is accepted, the truckers will resume ore transportation.
According to the proposal, the transportation rate offered by mining companies in 2012 was Rs 11.27 per tonne per kilometre, while the diesel rate was Rs 39.60. Presently, the transportation rate is Rs 8 and diesel rate is Rs 47.96.
AGTOA has proposed that the company set the transportation rate at Rs 11.27, while the difference between the old and new diesel rate – Rs 8.36 – should be given by the government in the form of grants. Meanwhile, the truck owners will bear the maintenance and repair cost of their vehicles.
The proposal has been forwarded to Sankhali MLA Dr Pramod Sawant, said AGTOA president Nilkant Gawas at an association meeting in Vadakade, Ponda on Friday.
AGTOA has asked the truckers not to allow transportation of ore before the matter is resolved. Vedanta is reportedly planning to resume ore transportation on December 21.
