PAC to tighten noose around overloaded mining trucks

PAC to tighten noose around overloaded mining trucks
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 22 
Goa Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has decided to tighten noose around the overloaded mining trucks by asking the Transport and Police Departments to get back on their toes from Wednesday onwards.
PAC’s meeting held on Tuesday at Porvorim asked the Transport Department to start fining the trucks which are overloading while Police Department have been asked to provide police protection.
The committee led by Manohar Parrikar has said, “police inspector will be supervising the security cover given to the transport officials on their drive against overloading.”
The high level committee has suggested various short and long term measures that could be implemented to curb the huge quantity of minerals being exported without paying royalty and also menace on the road due to transportation mess.
Parrikar said that Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) in its report of 2005-06 had pointed out that there is huge royalty pilferage on the exports of the ore.
The PAC meeting, which was attended by officials from mines, transport and district administration, has asked the concern departments to get back to it by Friday listing short term measures they have taken to curb overloading of mining trucks.
The residents of Sanguem and Cavrem, affected by mining truck movement, were also present for the meeting.
Parrikar said that the State will list out permanent measures by May, this year. “In the meantime, the departments have enough powers to curb the overloading,” he added.
Parrikar also suggested that the NOC from Mines Department should be made mandatory for the mining trucks. It was also felt that a proper legislation should be brought wherein, the lease holder should be held responsible for any violation by the contractor.
“Current mess is because of the constant competition between the mining contractors,” he said.
The district administration has also been asked to ensure that there is sufficient gap between two trucks. Three trucks per two minutes should be allowed.
 “This was special recommendation in case of those trucks plying from Redi in Maharashtra to Amona,” he said adding that district administration officials are also asked to discuss the problem faced by the locals here.
The meeting also recommended that the trucks should run at a speed of 20 kilometres per hour in the thickly populated localities. The PAC has also said that all the mining truck drivers should be registered with the Mines Department so that their antecedents are known.
 “Also, those driving the trucks without valid licence would be identified,” Parrikar said.
Last week, talking to reporters Transport Director Arun Desai had agreed that the overloading has been a major headache for the department.
Each truck is supposed not to carry more than 10.5 tonnes ore.