Team Herald
QUEPEM: Tension rent the air on Wednesday at the unloading point in Kapshe as truckers protested the change in the timings and schedule for weighing the empty trucks prompting Power Minister Nilesh Cabral to rush to the spot along with Ponda Joint Mamlatdar Jannvi Kalekar to handle the situation.
Truck owners of Kapshe and Panchawadi stopped the trucks by Talhe Mines at the unloading point at Kapshe claiming that there were certain changes in the Talhe Mines plans with regards to weighing schedule and timing of unloading the trucks.
Pascal Fernandes, a local truck owner from Talhe-Kapshe, said certain changes have been made with regards to the weighing of empty trucks without taking into confidence the truck owners of other areas, who come to unload the ore at unloading point at Kapshe.
Fernandes said, “Earlier the mines took Rs 200 as token and as per schedule the weighing of empty truck was held daily. However, now the mines have made certain changes wherein the weighing of empty trucks will now take place on Monday. We are against this decision and protested on Wednesday at unloading point at Kapshe.”
Burano D’Souza, another truck owner said, “The change in decision by the mines is not as per the rules and regulations. Same rules should be followed everywhere which will help in smooth flow of ore transportation. The new rule states that weighing of empty trucks will be done only on Monday and this is not possible for everyone because some truck owners have to carry out maintenance work. We have informed the Panchawadi Panchayat about this and they have supported us as some panchas were present today.”
Vallbah Dalvi, a member of South Goa Truck Owners’ Association said, “This is happened due to less mining trips because few mines are operating which are transporting the e-auctioned ore and due to this, such a situation occurred.”
After receiving information about the protest, Curchorem MLA and Power Minister Nilesh Cabral, rushed to the site.
Cabral said, “To provide solution to the issue, Ponda SDM held a special meeting in the Deputy Collector’s office. Every day weighing of empty mining trucks will take place at the unloading point or loading point. This is mostly a mining area and should continue for the mining dependents. Any issue should be solved in a peaceful manner. There are limited mining operations in the area and that was the reason for the protest.”
To maintain law and order situation, Ponda Police and Curchorem Police were present at the spot.
