TEAM HERALD
CURCHOREM: People from Muscavrem in Rivona staged a protest and stopped ore transportation from a mining area on Tuesday to demand better ore transportation rates.
Rivona Sarpanch Sarvesh Velip, Deputy Sarpanch Jose Alphonso, Surya Naik and other panchas also took part in the protests.
Speaking to Herald, the Rivona Truck Owners Association President Ashish Naik said the transport contractor had offered to pay Rs 10 per km, instead of paying them the fare fixed by the government.
“The rate of Rs 10 per km is very less, far less than the fare even charged by rickshaws. We have demanded the rate fixed by the government and till then, we will not allow transportation of ore,” said Naik.
He added that the agitating villagers would also meet to decide their future course of action.
“Accordingly, we will submit a memorandum with our grievances to the deputy collector and other higher authorities,” said Naik.
Sanguem Mamlatdar Rajesh Sakhalkar, who was present at the site, later requested Deputy Collector Shankar Gaonkar to hold talks with the agitating residents.
The residents remained steadfast with their demand and informed the deputy collector that they would inform him of their decision after a meeting with other villagers.
A police force from the Quepem police division was also present at the site to maintain law and order situation.
