MARGAO
The Salcete Truck Owners Association have urged Vasco MLA Krishna Daji Salkar to raise calling attention motion in the Assembly not only to point out the trucks carrying coal plying in the Port town, but also against the track doubling project being laid for transportation of coal.
Addressing the media, Association President Franky Gomes expressed his shock and surprise over allegations that overloaded trucks carrying coal are plying in the port town causing pollution. “The MLA has promised to raise the issue via a Calling Attention motion in the House. If the MLA is concerned over the trucks carrying coal, he should also be concerned over the track doubling project which is aimed at transportation of coal,” he told the media.
Refuting allegations that overloaded trucks carrying coal are plying on the road in Vasco, Franky challenged the MLA to prove that the trucks are overloaded with the coal. “The trucks are permitted to carry load up to 12.5 tonnes. I do not think any of the local truck owners are violating this condition. The owners pay taxes to the government to carry this much load,” he said.
He said the traffic police and the RTO is free to challan the trucks if they are overloaded and plying in violation of the condition. “I am not against the MLA, but he should have found out whether the trucks are plying with overload. By the same logic, if the MPT is shut because of the pollution, 90 per cent of Goans will be affected,” he added.
