HERALD: Why is that your association not able to convince the truck owners to accept the government rates?
GAWAS: Our MLA from Sankhali, Bicholim, Curchorem and two other constituencies is the middleman (agents) of the mining companies; they are depriving our rights as they want their commission from the company deducting it from our payments. So naturally they are working for the company and not for the truck owners and the people who had voted them to power. Most of the times, we have tried for a joint discussion with MLA’s from the mining belt but all the time they have told us that the mining companies are not in a position to afford the rates which we have been demanding for a long time.
HERALD: According to you, are the demands of the agitating truck owners justifiable?
GAWAS: Yes, the demands of truck owners are completely justifiable. All the market prices have increased such a spare parts, drivers’ salary, diesel rates and most importantly the maintenance cost and repairs for the truck. We, the truck owners, cannot afford this at the current rate and this is the main reason for us to demand high rates. The demands we are asking for are genuine and they should also agree to our demands.
HERALD: Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral claims that some truckers want to restart the activity but due to other fellow truckers they are not able to start?
GAWAS: Before elections both Nilesh Cabral and Pramod Sawant were in support for revision of rates but after winning the elections, they have taken a huge U-Turn as their main intention was just to create public image and prove their stand in front of the people. After elections, when they became MLAs, they started talking against the truck owners and also they took a major u-turn which was not in interest of the people most importantly the truck owners.
HERALD: Do you think that involvement of politicians into truck transport contract has worsened the situation for local truck operators?
GAWAS: Definitely involvement of politicians into truck transport contract has worsened the situation for local truck operators across the state. The politicians are only supporting the mining companies and not the public who had voted for them. The current government has totally forgotten the interests of the people of Goa. When we present our letter to the Chief Minister, with a list of problems faced by the truck owners due to the government policies such as speed governor renewal etc, we will seek his early redressal of the issue.
