QUEPEM: Faced with mounting concerns over issues like rising fuel cost and the proposed ‘Green Tax’, around 200 truck owners who met at Sanvordem on Friday, threatened to block ore transportation if their issues are not resolved by the State government.

Member of South Goa Progressive Truck Owners Association Caitan alias Cajetan Fernandes threatened to stop ore transportation if the truck owners are not given a fair deal by the government, given the fact that they have been suffering for the last 11 years.

He alleged that instead of giving them relief, the government is making life difficult for them by levying new taxes and laws.

He lamented that their repeated efforts to meet the chief minister have failed and disclosed that he has now asked Nilesh Cabral to intervene and fix an appointment with Pramod Sawant.

The truck owners were demanding a revision of the fare for transporting ore given the fact that diesel prices have soared in present times.

Vallabh Dalvi a local truck owners said the cost of transportation should be at least 26 per tonne per km given the fact that diesel at present is Rs 89 per litre.

The truck owners were also totally against the Green Tax proposed by the government arguing that when it is not clear whether mining will start or not, the government should not overburden the truck owners by proposing such new taxes.

Keshav Naik from Sanvordem said that instead of offering to refund later on, it would be better if the government does not levy taxes which would be refunded.

He pointed out many truck owners are already in debt as there has been no business of many years now.