PONDA: The locals of Savoiverem, Kerim and Volvoi have withdrawn their ban on sand transportation following an assurance from the authorities that erring drivers will be punished for violating traffic rules. The officials have also decided to put a restriction on sand transportation timings.
Now, the sand transportation in the above villages will begin as usual but subject to the conditions laid down by the villagers.
This was decided at a joint meeting of Savoiverem and Volvoi locals with Ponda PI Sudesh Naik, Traffic PI Ram Asre, Savoiverem Sarpanch Shrikant Verenkar, panch Swati Palkar, Adv Satywan Palkar, Vaishali Naik and Vinay Naik held in the Savoiverem panchayat hall.
It may be recalled that Savoiverem had banned all trucks involved in sand transportation in the village and Volvoi following the death of a 16-year-old school student who was crushed to death under the wheels of a speeding truck involved in sand transportation on March 23, 2016. The locals had demanded that those involved in the sand transportation business should strictly comply with their conditions such as control on rash driving, implementation of timing, speed limit etc.
At the meeting the locals demanded action against truck drivers and those minor students for driving their vehicles in a rash and negligent manner.
A local Shailesh Khedekar said that the truck drivers involved in sand transportation at Savoiverem are violating rules and timings which result in accidents and hardship to locals. He said boards will be displayed in villages mentioning the timings for sand laden trucks from 9 am to 1 pm and from 1 pm to 2 pm sand transportation will not allowed as the school students return home. The sand transportation will be allowed from 2 pm to 6 pm. Later from 6 pm to 9 am (next day) no transportation will be allowed.
The locals suggested installing boards in the villages displaying transportation timings. Ram Asre and Sudesh Naik promised to depute traffic policemen in the village to challan the drivers violating the rules.
The locals also demanded that the authorities provide identification document of truck drivers, such as address proof etc. to panchayat and the other authorities so as to punish the truck drivers involved in accidents. The locals also demanded restrictions on river sand extraction. Locals suggested 20-metre deep extraction and alleged that at many places sand is being extracted beyond 20 metres.
In case of any complaints on traffic rule violations, Sudesh Naik said asked the locals to contact Ponda Police or dial 100.
Ram Asre requested the locals to note down the vehicle number or photograph the vehicles involved in violations and send the same to the transport authorities via whatsapp number 703010000 for further action. He appealed the parents not to hand over their vehicles to their minor children to prevent fatal accidents.
