Team Herald
CURCHOREM: The South Goa Progressive Truck Owner’s Association (SGPTOA) demanded that the speed governors system for mining trucks be withdrawn immediately.
The truckers’ association demanded to withdraw the speed governors system for mining trucks with immediate effect since the trucks also have a tracking system in place.
During a press briefing at their Curchorem office on Friday, Secretary Laximan Dessai threatened to approach Supreme Court if the government fails to withdraw the speed governors system imposed on the trucks since a vehicle tracking system (VTS) is already fitted with speed limit of 40 km/hr to trucks by the Directorate of Mines and Geology.
Dessai also said the government has proposed to hike the renewal charges of GPS from Rs 540 per month to Rs 8000 per year. “We are opposed to this proposal because even the neighbouring state of Karnataka charges Rs 2000 per year,” added Dessai.
Treasurer Cajitan Fernandes said that insurance companies are increasing the premiums every year and therefore demanded that Non-Claim Bonus (NCB) should also increase in the same ratio. “The companies are increasing premiums but claims are decreasing day by day,” said Fernandes.
Fernandes informed that the North Goa Tipper Owner’s Association and SGPTOA had submitted a letter to the chief minister urging him to have a joint meeting with both the associations to resolve the issues as mining is about to resume after the Ganesh Chaturthi.
According to Fernandes they highlighted various issues in the letter given to the chief minister. Their demands included fixing the rate for transportation, cancellation of speed governors, bringing down the percentage of the land owner’s to acquire the land for mining corridor from 80 per cent, increasing the capping of 20 million tonnes to 35 million tonnes and Road Tax benefits for the non operational period. They also demanded that the payments should be made on quarterly basis instead of yearly basis.
