Truckers in mining belt are still in their bottomless poverty pit

DABAL: With no source of income or hope of any revival of their truck business, when ethical mining starts, mining dependents are facing a near-existential crisis, as the anger and frustration among the community of truckers is palpable

“Once a prosperous area, the Dabal village people are not interested even in marrying their daughters to youth from the village,” said Jimris Jackson Fernandes, a mining machinery contractor.

The wait for the truckers and machinery contractors for mining resumption has been unending.

Except for some ore transportation in small quantities, the truckers and contractors did not get any business.

Along the Quepem, Curchorem and Sanvordem areas, trucks are seen parked by the roadsides in total disrepair. Similar is the site in Sanguem areas too which had a sizable number of mines operating, providing a source of income to people right from fisherwomen to the traders and ore exporters.

Post-mining closure, several persons, who were at the top of the pyramid, managed to shift to real estate, hotels and other businesses. The small businesses and the small-time dependents were the biggest losers.

Truck owners and machine owners renovated and after paying all taxes and dues to the government, made their machinery road-worthy realised that they got only one or two trips of ore transportation.

“There was a time when educated women preferred to be married to Codli, Dabal localities. Those days have long gone,” Fernandes added.

“Mining shutdown in 2012 not just closed down the mining business, but all the businesses that were allied,” he said.

Explaining his plight, Sanket Bhandari, said, “For the last 12 years, I have been longing to restart the mining transportation business that my father handed over to me. But now all hopes are lost,” he said.

“Even after having no business or income, the truck and machinery owners are being forced to pay taxes and insurance for renewals that run into lakhs of rupees,” he added. “I have a kid and cannot wait for more promises from the government anymore, as I need a permanent source of living,” he said.

Shyam Bhandari said, “My father was a barge operator and that is how I too entered the mining business. Now, MLAs and Ministers themselves have become machinery contractors leaving nothing for the small-timers. There is anger among the people which cuts across party lines.”

Akshay Faldessai from Vantem, Cuncolim sees no hope of getting any business for his two trucks lying completely degraded in his yard. 

“Neither did we get a share in mining transportation nor did the government bother to employ our trucks in the government project,” he said, pointing to the National Institute of Technology (NIT) campus in Cuncolim. 

“We could have made some living out of the work at this project but no one showed any compassion,” he added.

Mining contractors and dependants say the entire community will teach the persons responsible for their plight a lesson.