Team Herald
PANJIM: Even as the agitation by All Goa Truck Owners’ Association (AGTOA) intensified, Vedanta Sesa Goa said it would be forced to suspend operation if there is no solution to the issue of transportation rates.
A spokesperson of the company on Friday told Herald, “All Goa Truck Owners’ Association (AGTOA) appears to have some other axe to grind against all mining dependents, about 1,50,000 of them in Goa, who will benefit from the restart of mining business. Rate is not the issue for them as they offered the rate of Rs 7 per tonne per kilometre in presence of the Deputy Collector. If the transport does not start at Rs 8 per tonne per kilometre, which has been agreed upon, the company will have no other alternative but to suspend operations which were started at the behest of the Chief Minister. Such suspension will naturally result in no-work, no-pay.”
Goa Mineral Ore Exporters’ Association (GMOEA), when contacted, said the agitation is rather unfortunate. GMOEA Secretary Glenn Kalavampara said, “It is unfortunate to hear such news, especially, when the mining companies are making efforts to resume operations.”
CM blames Congress for transportation imbroglio
PANJIM: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Friday blamed the Congress and independent MLAs for politicising the ore transportation issue.
“I have nothing to say on the issue. You ask the Congress leaders and the independents, who came on the roads to support the truckers strike,” Parsekar told Herald.
Parsekar said that had the issue not been politicised by adding fuel to fire, it could have been sorted out but now the situation is beyond control.
“Had the issue not been politicised by a few for their political benefits, we would have reached a solution but now what can I do?” he asked.
He added, “Ask Luizinho Faleiro or other leaders who instigated the truckers to find a solution.”
