Team Herald
PONDA: Tension prevailed at Vadakade Usgao on Tuesday as Vedanta commenced transportation of ore from Codli to Amona Plant with police protection.
Around 11 trucks were transporting ore with police protection, when two ore-laden trucks were pelted with stones by furious agitators, breaking window panes.
The incident took place at around 11.30 am and led to a heated argument between police officials and truck owners which continued till 1 pm. Police then left the spot telling the mining company they will not be able to protect them in the evening as they have duty at Fatorda stadium.
The All Goa Truck Owners Association, that is fighting the mining company for a hike in rates and is on its 12th day of agitation warned the government and the mining company that there will be no more ore transportation till the rates are increased.
They warned that if the government and Vedanta attempt to start transportation with police protection, all truck owners will take to the roads with their families and mining dependent people.
AGTOA president, Nilkant Gawas said they will not worry about being arrested and that their families should also know what they are fighting for. In case of a violent turn to the agitation, the mining company and the government will be fully responsible, he said and sought the Chief Minister’s intervention before any untoward incident.
Gawas said the government should be ashamed that thousands of mining dependent people, including truck owners, are suffering but instead it is backing the mining companies.
The mining belt MLAs and government are more concerned about the mining companies than the truck owners, he said referring to the CM’s statement that truck owners should cooperate with mining companies.
The soil belongs to Goans and the government and mining companies cannot rob the livelihood of those dependent on mining and suffering for the last four years.
Ponda DySP Sunita Sawant, PI Sudesh Naik, Collem PI Nilesh Diagodkar and a strong posse of police were present at Usgao to monitor the situation.
Asked whether AGTOA had received a court notice over agitation and halting ore transportation on a petition filed by the mining company, Gawas said he had received it and would file a suitable reply in court.
