Team Herald
PONDA: The residents of Takwada in Usgao on Friday stopped ore carrying trucks near Usgao bridge at 1.15 pm, protesting the violation of ore transportation timing, as “it is posing serious threat to school going children.”
It may be recalled that after several fatal accidents had occurred in Usgao due to rash and twenty-four hour transportation of ore, the villagers had approached the High Court of Bombay at Goa, a few years back, praying for prohibition of ore transportation during the time when children go to and return from school. Their prayer was granted by the court.
As per the court order, the ore transportation timing is from 8 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm. However, the truckers have not been following these timings for transporting ore even though initially they had assured to obey the court order.
Locals also complained that there is no separate mining corridor as per the Supreme Court guidelines; further, the ore is not covered properly during transportation resulting in severe dust pollution. Moreover, the trucker have not been following the speed limit imposed on them, which, the villagers allege, has resulted in many fatal accidents.
