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However, the truckers have supported the move of the North Goa Tipper Owners’ Association (NGTOA) and South Goa Progressive Truck Owners’ Association (SGPTOA), who have sought government’s intervention to fix the new rate for the new mining season.
Both the associations had appealed to truckers not to start mining transportation till the government fixes the new transportation rate.
When contacted, Dharbandora Sarpanch Balaji Gawas said: “If these associations are assuring us to give a better rate than this, then we are with them. We will stop ore transportation if they promise us a better rate than this.”
Joseph Coelho, head of operations at Vedanta, told The Goan that the company intends to start transportation from Tuesday.
Vedanta officials, Balaji Gawas and other truck owners on Monday morning convened a meeting to discuss the issues related to mining transportation.
As per the minutes of the meeting, it was agreed to engage all trucks from the panchayat jurisdiction, by cancelling ‘P’ numbers (trucks of Vedanta staffers who were plying during opposition by locals).
Sarpanch Gawas said: “The management has agreed to supply diesel from their own pumps at Rs 52.54 per litre and transportation rate is fixed at Rs 10.01 per tonne per km.”
“The management has also agreed to negotiate the GPS annual fees of Rs 8,000 with the Directorate of Mines and Geology,” Gawas informed.
