Truck operators, mine owners show no sign of reconciliation

PANJIM, NOV 18
The simmering crisis between truck operators and mine owners refuses to die down despite several chances of reconciliation.
On the eve of crucial and the final meeting tomorrow, truck operators today claimed that there has been no solution in offing for their problems as mining companies have refused to listen to their demands.
“Till date none of the mining companies have approached any of their mining truck association as assured by them,” All Goa Mining Truck Owners Association (AGMTOA) president Nilkhant Gawas told Herald.
The meeting scheduled tomorrow at Transport Department has now attained importance as this was the last reconciliation chance given by the state government for both the aggrieved parties.
The state government committee to decide on freight rates headed by transport director Arun Desai, which met on November 11 had given a final chance to the mining companies and truck owners to settle down the issue of freight rates by November 19, failing which the government decision will be the final.
Accordingly, the mining companies like Chowgule, Fomento, Sesa Goa and Salgaoncar had assured to settle the issue before November 19. The companies were asked to present the offered rates in the meeting, scheduled tomorrow.
AGMTOA, which met today in Ponda has decided to go as per the government decision with a condition that the rates should fit to their demands.
“When we have accepted government decision of time restriction and limited tonnage, then the government should also take our demands seriously,” Gawas said.
The leaders have also threatened that government will have to face the consequences if they do not pay heed to their demand.
As the state government has restricted the tonnage to 10 tonnes per truck and timing to nine hours, the truck owners have said that it is not feasible for them to conduct the business at such situation. Hence they have demanded four times hike in their freight rates.
Currently, different freight rates are being charged by the mining companies depending on its services. Fomento Private Limited pays Rs 8 per tonne per kilometre. While Sesa Goa pays Rs 6 per tonne as against Dempo and Salgaoncar who pays Rs 5 per tonne per kilometre.