Team Herald
PONDA: A day after there was some hope of smooth mining transport resumption with the North Goa Truck Owners Association accepting the revised and increased rates of ore transportation proposed by the government, the controversy slipped back into a complex state with the All Goa Truck Owners Association (AGTOA) rejecting the hike. It is learnt that they are demanding a further increase of Rs 2 per km, effectively double of what has been proposed.
Stating that the Rs 2 hike in ore transportation rate as decided by the government is not acceptable and unaffordable to them due to rising inflation, taxes and diesel rates, the All Goa Truck Owners Association (AGTOA) president Nilkant Gawas warned that they will not allow truck transportation in mining belt at any cost. In case of any untoward incident, he said the Government will be responsible for the same.
This will obviously be a serious jolt to all hopes of a smooth beginning of the mining season.
Addressing the media along with the association members, he said the government’s decision to allow 80 per cent of the ore transportation for truck owners is not acceptable and raised concern that the mine owners will take advantage of the remaining 20 per cent to carry out “unwanted” practices due to such favours.
Gawas said the Chief Minister is talking tough by asking them to transport ore at government decided rate. The South Goa truck owners have already rejected the rates while on the other hand the North Goa Truck Owners Association is defunct since past few years and has no clue on truck owners’ problem.
The AGTOA President said that despite their memorandum to government in July and August, they were neglected by the government and were never called for discussions.
Gawas reminded the government of the AGTOA’s agitation in 2015 at Vadkade, Usgao which lasted for almost 47 days.
He said despite All Goa Truck Owners Association submitting several memorandums to discuss the issue they were not consulted as the Chief Minister discussed the same with the mining companies.
Few truck owners and machine owners, who were supporters of MLA Pramod Sawant, showed their readiness to transport at Rs 12.50.
Gawas slammed the MLAs from the mining belt for “forming and controlling” the small associations of truck owners in their areas and for mediating with government on the old rates, which have been opposed by the truck owners. He also accused the MLAs of trying to create a divide among the truck owners for their vested interests.
He called upon the MLAs from the mining belt to play major role in uniting the truck owners for interest of the society. The namesake associations formed by MLAs have not even held general body or public meeting among its members who represent as truck owners.
Gawas said “Instead of listening to mining companies, the Government should work for the cause of truck owners who are struggling to survive for the past five years”.
Gawas pointed out that in 2010 the old ore transportation rate was Rs 11.27 per tonne per km and diesel was priced at Rs 32.60 per litre. When mining re-started, the AGTOA was forced to accept the ore rates at Rs 10.50 per tonne per km with diesel rate being Rs 46 in 2015 after launching an agitation which lasted many days. “Now in 2017, government offers us a new rate of Rs 12.50 per tonne per km with diesel price soaring at Rs 58 per litre. There is great inflation in the diesel rates now as compared to the previous years,” he added.
He questioned the government and the MLAs in the mining belt as to how would it would be possible for the truck owners to meet their expenses such as truck insurance which is Rs 50,000 besides other taxes.
Balaji Gawas, president of Dharbandora Truck Owners Association and Sarpanch said, “Sanvordem MLA Deepak Pawaskar is supporting their demands. He asked other MLAs like Prasad Gaonkar, Nilesh Cabral and Vishwajit Rane how the government rate of Rs 12.50 would be affordable to truck owners.
