Team Herald
PANJIM: The All Goa Lorry Owners Association, Transport Association and Tipper Truck Associations on Wednesday staged protest against outsiders being given transportation contracts at the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA).
The protesters claimed that transportation by outsiders was depriving locals of livelihood opportunities and also causing huge revenue losses to the State government.
All Goa Lorry Owners Association president Shrikant Chari slammed the company handling wood chip cargo, which according to him, arrived at the MPA after eight years, and for neglecting local transporters.
Chari said that though they were happy that the MPA had got new cargo, but were disappointed because 99 per cent of transporters appointed were from other States. The government’s slogan 'Vocal for Local' has been ignored, and Goan transporters have been sidelined.
Chari pointed out that other ports like Mengaluru and Jaigarh had rules providing 100 per cent preference for local transporters and demanded that similar regulations be imposed by the MPA.
Another local transporter Wasim Shaikh said that despite submitting quotations in consultation with all stakeholders, the company never responded and commenced transportation with 30 outsider transporters. The company is also trying to appoint 20 more transporters and if this trend continues then it will spell doom to Goan transporters, Shaikh said.
Hemant Shetgaonkar of the Tipper Truck Association warned that transporters would be forced to protest on the streets if they continued to be deprived of business.
The protesters have now decided to again meet Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to demand that maximum business at the Mormugao Port reserved for Goans.