PONDA: Daring the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for his tough stand on ore transportation rates, the mining truck owners have made it clear that they would not allow transportation of ore at the rates fixed by the government.
At a meeting they had with the Dharbandora Deputy Collator Agnelo Fernandes on Thursday, the truck owners made it clear to the official that in case of law and order problem over ore transportation, the government would be responsible for the same and not them. The meeting was attended by around 45 truck owners.
However, the deputy collector clarified to the truck owners that he was not the authority to decide the ore transportation rates and that his responsibility was only to maintain law and order in the taluka.
Meanwhile, the deputy collector informed the truck owners that Vedanta has sought police protection to transport ore as per the rates fixed by the government. “As and when Vedanta initiates ore transportation as per government declared rates, I am bound to provide them police protection,” he said.
On Wednesday, Parrikar fixed the rates for ore transportation at Rs 12.50 per km below 10 km, Rs 12 per km from 10-20 km and Rs 11.50 per km above 20 kms.
However, the truck owners say that these rates were not feasible and they would run into loss. The mining truck owners were led by Dharbandora Truck Owners President Balaji Gawas and South Goa Truck Owners Association President Prakash Raut Desai.
The mining companies are ready to transport ore by hiring trucks from other States. With both the sides standing their ground on the ore transportation rate issue, observers fear a repeat of the 2015 violent agitation in the mining belt that lasted for 36 days leading to forced shut down of ore transportation.
