BICHOLIM
The BTTOA claimed that ore transportation was likely to resume by Friday. The decision was arrived at a meeting convened at Dhabdhaba-Bicholim late Monday night, BTTOA secretary Subhash Kinalkar told local reporters. It may be recalled that the truck owners association on February 25 had refused to transport ore, on ground that the rates suggested by the company was not affordable to them. On February 26, a joint meeting of truck operators and Vedanta company officials was convened with Bicholim Mamlatdar Gurudas Desai, to resolve the issue. However, the meeting was inconclusive as the mining company refused to accept the demand of `11.50 per tonne per km, by adjusting the diesel at `40.20 per litre. The next meeting was to be convened on March 1, but it was subsequently postponed. In the meantime, one more joint meeting was convened in the office of the mining company at Dhabdhaba-Bicholim, which was attended by mining company officials and BTTOA representatives. “During the meeting, the company reportedly put forth a proposal of paying ` 10.50 per tonne per km and diesel at ` 44.93. The truck operators accepted the offer on the condition that company should pay them ` 1.5 lakh to be utilized for adjustment purposes,” said Kinalkar. Kinalkar claimed that they have accepted the offer on a trial basis and on the condition that they should not suffer any losses. Sources said the operations of transporting fresh ore are likely to begin by March 4. Earlier on Monday, the Sesa Goa Company workers submitted a memorandum to Bicholim Deputy Collector Mahadev Arondekar and Bicholim Municipal Council (BMC) Chairperson Rajaram Gaonkar, stating their willingness to start mining activities as early as possible. The deputy collector had assured them to look into the matter, while BMC chairperson Gaonkar said if the mining company accepts truckers proposal of rates suggested by them, then the truckers are ready to go ahead with transportation of fresh ore.
