The verbal clash between mining company officials and truck operators is not new in the iron ore rich belts of the State. The disagreement over the tonnage rate has always had mining companies and ore transporters arguing over the profitability of the business. But what occurred, near a spot popularly called as ‘Bombay Junction’ on December 4, was unprecedented, especially considering that recent attempts to resume mining had cemented camaraderie between the truckers and mining companies.
The ongoing fight between Sesa Goa and the truck owners, has left the Unions fighting for immediate resumption of mining activities, in the lurch.
All Goa Truck Owners Association (AGTOA) president Nilkant Gawas recalls how then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had worked out a rate to carry e-auctioned cargo. The rate per tonne per kilometre was more than Rs 12. The cargo movement went on smoothly. There were cheers in the mining belt that the business was back on the track. However, the picture then changed.
The truckers, who were offered a rate of Rs 8 per tonne per km for carrying cargo due to falling prices in the international markets, were unhappy. They began agitating, and came on to the road. The truck transport was stopped. One truck was burnt which led to a police complaint by Sesa Goa.
Sesa Goa claims that they had listed 1,300 trucks to carry the cargo from Codli to Amona/Surla. These trucks were already working with the company during the pre-ban days. The company had even signed an agreement with 600 truckers who had agreed to carry the cargo at the given rate. The company has engaged the services of the truck owners coming from the enroute villages such as Codli, Dharbandoda, Usgao, Pali, Bhamai, Surla-Amona.
Sesa Goa officials say considering current market prices it’s difficult to give in to the demand of a higher rate.
But the argument over transportation rates is not the real issue. This is what Sesa says in its police complaint: The truck owners association was ready to transport the ore even at the rate of Rs 7 but they insisted to discontinue the existing trucks currently engaged by the company and engage trucks recommended by them.
“For this the company officials said discontinuation of currently engaged trucks is not possible but company will consider engaging trucks of owners residing within 400 metres either side from the main ore transport route that is Codli-Surla-Amona,” official said.
Sesa has named leaders like Nilkant Gawas, Shivdas Madkar, Riyaz Sheikh, Balaji Gauns and Mangaldas Naik for instigating crowd on December 4.
The truck owners, however, rubbished the allegations of the company. “We have demanded that the company should give in writing that once international prices go up the truckers will be paid more per tonnage,” Gawas said. He said the State government’s inefficiency and vested interests of some people has led to this logjam.
Supporting him, Madkar alleged that the mine owners have thrown to wind all the directions of Supreme Court and were trying to bully other stakeholders. “The truckers will not transport the ore till they are offered a rate which is more than Rs 8. With limited business left and few truck operators engaged in the duty, it is not feasible to survive at Rs 8,” he said.
The entire situation has not gone well with the Goa Mining People Front (GMPF). The group that spearheaded the agitation for immediate recommencement of mining operations, feels that the entire incident will further delay the resumption of mining activities, which have been at a halt for the last three years.
“Our stand is very clear that mining needs to restart now and all the stakeholders have to compromise and work together to ensure that the business kicks off. All stakeholders need to sit, negotiate and come out with a solution. The business has not started in full swing as yet and with falling international prices, both the parties (truck owners and company) need to understand this and work jointly for welfare of people and the State,” GMPF convener Adv Suhas Naik said.
The situation in the mining belt currently remains tense. Sesa Goa has already warned of no work no pay for the staff. The truckers too have stuck to their gun. Now all eyes are on Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar to bail out the industry from this man-made crisis.
