AGTOA held a meeting in Usgao Vadakade on Thursday to protest the action taken against truckers who cross the speed limit and to decide their course of action. During the meeting, Gawas announced that the truck owners would not transport ore until the government held talks on the issue.
It may be recalled that the Directorate of Mines and Geology, on Monday, started initiating action against several trucks, including barring them from transporting ore, after they were found violating the 40 kmph speed limit. This follows the recent fatal accident in Quepem, where two women died after a mining truck collided into their vehicle. The Mines Department monitors the movement of trucks transporting ore via a software.
According to Gawas, trucks that crossed the speed limit were barred from transporting ore for some days, due to which the truck owners suffered losses. He said that the speed of not only trucks, but also other vehicles should also be controlled.
Gawas further said that, by sticking to the speed limit of 40 kmph, the number of trips for each truck had decreased, thus, affecting their income, and the trucks also consumed more diesel by driving in the second gear.
He also demanded that mining companies pay the truckers a transportation rate of Rs 50 per tonne per kilometre due to the speed governance.
