MARGAO
Angry sand transporters on Friday demanded legalizing sand extraction and transportation in the state, as they threatened to intensify their agitation by unloading all sand-laden trucks entering the state from Maharashtra and Karnataka.
They have decided to approach the MLAs to raise the issue in the ensuing session of the Goa Legislative Assembly and mete out justice to the sand transporters across the state. They warned that they should not be held responsible if any government-run projects are affected by the agitation to block all sand transporting trucks from Maharashtra from entering the state.
A large number of sand transporters from across the state assembled near the Power House, Margao, on Friday to protest against the ongoing raids conducted by the Department of Mines and the RTO.
They pointed out that trucks seized by the agencies are not returned to the owners for days together, leaving them in the lurch as they cannot use the vehicles for the purpose of transportation.
Prashant Naik informed that the truck owners are made to run from pillar to post whenever their trucks are seized by the agencies. “When we approach the Director of Mines for information, they tell us to go to the RTO, which in turn sends us to the police. This is totally unacceptable. Our families are struggling to make both ends meet because of the pandemic and in view of the constant raids on the trucks,” he said.
Naik pointed out that former Chief Minister, late Manohar Parrikar, had worked out a solution to the issue, even as he urged incumbent Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to resolve matter at the earliest.
Saying that the truck operators are hailing from various Assembly constituencies, he said they will approach their respective MLAs to take up the issue in the coming Assembly session.
Another truck owner, Sunal Desai said the government should take immediate steps to legalize sand extraction and transportation in the state considering that the business activity offers livelihood to thousands of families. “Only we know how we have survived during the pandemic and now the agencies are harassing us by seizing our vehicles carrying sand”, he said, while demanding to know how vehicles from neighbouring Maharashtra are permitted to enter the state with sand.
Ex-Curtorim ZP Member Moreno Rebello said that the government’s initiative to make Goa Swayampurna will never be achieved unless the government offers a solution to the problem of sand transporters. “How can Goa become Swayampurna when our brothers are finding it difficult to earn a living because of the ban on sand extraction and transportation?” he wondered.
Subhas R from Betki said that unless the government legalises sand extraction, there’s no hope for sand transporters in the state. “The government should immediately get the issue resolved and do justice to the sand transporters,” he said.
The sand transporters are now planning to intensify their stir, and have decided to hold their dharna in Panaji.
