MARGAO: The State sand extractors and transporters on Friday threatened to stop sand import from the States of Maharashtra or Karnataka unless the State government allows the Goans to extract and supply sand.
“We will hold an agitation in front of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant’s residence to meet our demands,” they informed.
Addressing a gathering of the sand extractors and transporters, Prashant Naik said, “The government is the biggest culprit. While banning sand extraction and transport in the State, it is allowing the contractors undertaking government projects to get sand from Kudal and other places.”
He also lamented that the Goan trucks have been seized by the police who are keeping the trucks loaded with sand without registering any case and added in some cases the trucks are lying at the police station for months without any relief.
Sonal Dessai said, “They are self-employed and asked how they are supposed to feed their families if they are not allowed to carry out any business. We have paid our taxes even during the lockdown period when we did not have business. Unless the government gives us some relief now, we shall have to commit suicide.”
Former Zilla Panchayat member Morenos Rebello, who is into the business of supplying construction material said, “The government has made all construction material illegal in the State.”
“Sand, laterite bricks and even black metal is illegal in the State and how is the poor man supposed to construct his small dwelling house?” he asked.
He alleged that the government officials stand at the borders and allow sand carrying trucks from across the border to enter into the State for a heavy bribe and added it was time to expose these officials.
While terming the present government to be the most “inhuman government”, he said, “The next protest will be in front of the Chief Minister’s residence.”
“We would call on all the 40 MLAs with their problems so that the same may be raised and discussed at the Assembly session scheduled in a few days time,” they said.
