Team Herald
PONDA: The Dharbandora Truck Owners’ Association at a meeting held at Kalsai, Dharbandora on Sunday reiterated their demand for a hike in royalty paid ore transportation rates.
It may be recalled that earlier at the September 13 meeting, the demand was conveyed to government.
Addressing to media persons, truck owner Balaji Gawas said, “Truck owners have already put forward their demand for hike in rates with the Chief Minister. The old rates are not affordable due to hike in diesel prices. The mining companies and contractor transported ore at lower rates than the ones approved by Government.”
He demanded that the rate difference should be cleared by mining companies and contractor before the start of fresh season along with rate hike. Gawas said, “The old rates were fixed by government five years ago at Rs 12.33 per tonne per km and at that time the diesel rate was Rs 52 per litre. The current diesel rate has inflated to Rs 78 per litre and hence old rates are not affordable to us and therefore we want the rates hiked.”
The truck owners also sought to know about the future of mining in Goa as their livelihood entirely depends on it.” Balaji said, “The truck owners had incurred heavy expenditure on truck maintenance and repairs with hope that mining would start in Goa.”
