QUEPEM, JUNE 4
Quepem SDM Agnelo Fernandes on Friday convened a meeting with officials of mining companies operating in Cavrem and Rivona, government officials and members of Quepem Taluka Mining Affected People Front (QTMAPF) to find a solution to overloading and over-speeding of mining trucks.
The meeting was convened after QTMAPF submitted a memorandum to SDM Fernandes to find a solution to the mining problem. The SDM brought to the notice of the officials of mining companies that overloading of trucks have been going on in violation of condition No 12 of the mining lease deed.
The mining lease deed states that the lessee shall take necessary steps not to overload the trucks carrying ore rejects from the leased area to any loading point or stockyard.
He also brought to their notice that the trucks are over-speeding, which endangers the lives of people in the area.
The deputy collector presented the inspection report of Goa Pollution Control Board, which states that mining trucks are over speeding and they have raised the body of the trucks with metallic plates, besides constant spillage on road and number of truck increased.
The SDM sought suggestions from the officials of mining companies, but instead of giving suggestions or their opinion, they preferred to remain silent. However, they admitted to the overloading of trucks.
The QTMAPF members grilled Deputy Director of Transport Prakash Azavedo over non-implementation of the high Court order regarding removal of planks.
The SDM directed the officials of mining companies to clean the road, where ore has saturated before the onslaught of monsoon.
Some QTMAPF members demanded the withholding of salary of those officials who are not implementing the laws.
The members also demanded installing of cameras along the mining route to check over speeding. The SDM requested the members to write to the government to that effect.
The SDM assured the villagers that the decision taken at the meeting will be strictly implemented from the beginning of the next mining season.
The meeting was also attended by Quepem Mamlatdar Sudin Nato, DySP Umesh Gaonkar, Deputy Director of Transport Prakash Azavedo, officials of traffic cell, mining department and others.
