PONDA
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had convened a joint meeting in Panaji on Saturday to resolve differences between the truckers and Vedanta officials over ore transportation rates. The meeting remained inconclusive as both parties remained firm on their stand.
Sanvordem MLA Deepak Pawaskar, Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, Vedanta's chief operating officer Sauvick Mujumdar and Dharbandora Taluka Truckers' Association (DTTA) President Balaji Gawas were among those present at the meeting.
The chief minister had earlier fixed a rate of Rs 12.5 for below 10 kms, Rs 12 for 11-19 kms, Rs 11.5 for above 20 kms, besides the current rate of diesel.
The truckers, however, rejected the rate fixed by Parrikar and have insisted on an overall rate of Rs 12.5 per tonne per km (PTPK) along with a flat diesel rate of Rs 52 for ore transportation.
The truck operators had agitated outside Vedanta company in Codli last week and had damaged two trucks engaged in ore transportation from Kalem-Kashti to Amona.
When contacted, MLA Pawaskar said the chief minister had advised Vedanta to stop mining exports if they were not in a position to increase the rates.
"However, there is a rule that mining for domestic purpose cannot be stopped. So, they (Vedanta) have requested the government to allow mining for domestic purpose," Pawaskar told The Goan.
Speaking to The Goan, Vedanta Operations Manager Joseph Coelho said they would resume ore transportation on Monday with police protection. "We simply cannot increase the rates in the present situation. Truckers should accept the rate fixed by the CM. We will continue our mining for domestic purpose," said Coelho.
Vedanta has a pig iron plant at Amona, which requires ore to be functional. The current protest has forced them to purchase ore from other firms, but that too was blocked.
The DTTA have convened a meeting on Sunday morning in Sateri Pissani hall at Kalsai-Dabal to chalk out their future course of action.
"Vedanta officials were unwilling to increase the rate, even though CM had requested them. The rate fixed by the CM is not affordable to run the business and hence we had sought a revision. We will meet on Sunday to decide on the future course of action," DTTA President Balaji Gawas told The Goan.
