PONDA: The All Goa Truck Owners’ Association (AGTOA) rejected Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s proposal to extend the timing of ore transportation to 10 pm.
AGTOA, Parsekar and Dharbandora Sarpanch Vinayak Gawas, who is an AGTOA executive member, held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue of fresh ore transportation. At the meeting, Parsekar put forward a proposal to transport ore after regular hours – from 6 pm to 10 pm – which was turned dwon by AGTOA.
Gawas said that as sarpanch he has to look after the interest of people. He said, “The present timing is good for the locals. I told the Chief Minister that it should not be extended. Truck owners will benefit if the timing is extended, but I opposed it as it causes inconvenience to the people.”
He added that the villagers would be able to move on the roads freely at night if the timing is not extended.
The decision to reject the extension may come as good news for mining-belt residents, who have to deal with pollution and other effects of mining.
Prior to 2010, ore used to be transported even till 8 pm, and several accidents had taken place at night. Locals also complained about dust pollution and demanded a restriction on the transportation timing.
Taking note of their problems, the government, in 2010, restricted the transportation timing to 6 pm.
