Team Herald
BICHOLIM: The deadlock between the All Goa Truck Owners’ Association (AGTOA) and Vedanta over the issue of ore transportation rates appears to have ended, with Vedanta accepting most of the truckers’ demands.
AGTOA and Vedanta held a meeting at Sankhali on Monday in the presence of local MLA Dr Pramod Sawant. Addressing the media, AGTOA president Nilkant Gawas stated that Vedanta had agreed to several demands, including the withdrawal of cases slapped against truck owners.
“We had also demanded that Vedanta give us the notified rate of Rs 11.10 paisa per tonne per kilometre, include 70 trucks for transportation, and make payment every 15 days,” said Gawas, adding, “Vedanta has agreed to these demands. Tomorrow we will convey this to other truck owners.”
A representative of Vedanta-Sesa Goa, however, said, “Sesa is transporting e-auctioned ore at DMG (Directorate of Mines and Geology) decided rate. Since there is no question of demand by anyone for DMG rate, there is no case of acceptance. Anyone who wants to come forward to transport e-auctioned ore can do so at DMG rate.”
