Meet on ore freight rate remains inconclusive
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, OCT 25
The meeting held to discuss the freight rate on the ore transported from the mines remained inconclusive today as truck owners and Mining company representatives could not come to a common decision.
Transport Director, Arun Desai, who heads government appointed committee to decide freight charges, said that truck owners and mining company representatives are now given time till November 9 to reach consensus.
Emerging from the meeting late evening, Desai told Herald that government will intervene in the matter again, only if both the parties do not come to a common solution. “If they don’t agree than they will have to specify the reasons to the committee,” Desai said.
The representatives of mining firms including Chowgule, Fomento, Sesa Goa and Salgaoncar attended this crucial meeting held in Panjim.
The meeting was fall out of the warning issued by South Goa Progressive Truck owners association to strike the work if their demands are not met by October 24.
The truck owners are demanding hike in the freight rates following transport department’s drive against overloading. They have said that with limited tonnage allowed by the department, it is not feasible for them to conduct the business.
Transport Department sources stated that the freight charges are decided depending upon the grade of the ore and also kilometers of the transportation.
While some mining companies have agreed to revise the rates, others have refused to revise them. It is pertinent to note that even the revised rates are not acceptable to the truck owners.
Sources stated that the truck owners who have gathered under a common association have been demanding a rate of Rs 20 per tonne per kilometer as against the current rate of Rs 10 per tonne per kilometer.
