“We are forced to think about getting our own trucks, which may have a higher tonnage capacity. This will not only ease the constant uncertainty lurking around, but will also ease the traffic situation. At the same time, we are also contemplating providing a steel mesh to protect truckers from stone-pelters,” said a Vedanta spokesperson.
Productivity and revenue generation from the mining industry is dipping gradually as the truckers involved in ore transportation are refusing to confront the dangers of being attacked by unscrupulous elements, who hurl stones at them.
Even as Vedanta’s transportation of ore between Codli and Capxem jetty is normal, the company does require transportation backup from Sonshi to Amona, Bicholim to Carmona and Codli to Surla.
“This is absolutely essential as we have to ensure that our Amona plant gets the raw material. Hence, we are planning to have our own trucks,” added the spokesperson.
The SC has already imposed a temporary cap of 20 million tonnes of iron ore in Goa annually. It is not likely that more than 5,000 trucks will be used for ore transportation. “Before the mining ban, there were times when the volume of trucks required was much larger than what is today,” added the spokesperson.
Vedanta has around 600 trucks registered for transportation, of which not even 10% are plying due to the pressure mounted by trucker owners’ associations in Goa.
