Surya is in a dilemma. He owns 14 trucks, four buses andfour small vehicles. He has to pay monthly installment of Rs 2.5 lakh tovarious banks.
Surya’s situation is similar to hundreds of others in themining area, whose life has turned topsy-turvy after the sudden ban on mining.
“Sanvordem has the biggest number of trucks -- 2,500, whileNeturle, Wade, Netravali and Tudva areas have around 200 trucks,” Suryarecounts.
He bought his first truck five years ago and then keptbuying more, as business was good.
“I paid Rs 12,000 to my drivers but since halt in mining Ipay them Rs 10,000. Around 300 drivers have left for their native places. But localdrivers have to be paid even if there is no work,” explains Surya.
Vaman Narayan Malik alias Nani from Kudne bought his firsttruck in 1986. Today he is 52 and owns three trucks. Two of his drivers arefrom Jharkhand whom he paid Rs 15,000 each. “Thank God they went back duringthe monsoons and have not returned since. One driver is Goan and I pay him halfthe salary, of Rs 7,500,” Nani says. In his area 50 percent drivers are Goans.
Nani has paid his bank installments in advance till December2012. He has advertised in newspapers tosell his trucks but is reluctant to sell a truck costing Rs 14 lakh for just Rs8.5 lakh.
Nani’s joint family of 18 members own 54 trucks and unlikeNani most of them have to pay to the bank.
Francisco Pavlo Carvalho alias Palma from the Ugem panchayatand owns three trucks. He got into truck business in 1993. “I have to pay aninstallment of Rs 23,500 to the bank. My driver gets Rs 10,000 as salary andlunch allowance of Rs 100 a day. I am currently paying him half the salary,”says Palma whose brother too has two trucks.
In Rivona Panchayat, around 2000 people out of the 3500 odd,are dependent on mining related jobs and businesses. Social outreachinitiatives of mining companies like computer center, school buses and medicalfacilities still continue but people are worried about the future.
Ex-Sarpanch Guru has 8 trucks that he wants to sell, butunfortunately there are no takers for his trucks.
Some of the locals are also planning to return to theirroots and start farming.
