PONDA:
At a meeting in Usgao chaired by AGTOA President Nilkant Gawas on Thursday, the truckers unanimously decided to keep their trucks off the roads till the government took them into confidence on the issue.
“The government should take us into confidence in this matter and the speed limit should be at least 60 km per hour,” said Gawas.
The Directorate of Mines and Geology had issued suspension work orders to 538 trucks spread across the mining belt of Goa, after they were found violating the speed limit rules of 40 km per hour. The rash movement of mining trucks has been severely criticised by public following a fatal mishap at Tilamol, which claimed two lives.
According to Gawas, if truckers proceed at the speed specified by the government, it would be a loss to them.
“If we drive at an average speed of 40 km per hour, it would mean that we would have to drive trucks in the second gear, which would consume more diesel and we will be in a loss. Is government ready to bear this loss,” asked Gawas.
“These violations were noticed through Global Positioning Systems (GPS) installed on these trucks. If they find us exceeding speed limit, then we are unable to weigh ore at the unloading point, as the GPS does not allow to weigh the ore.
Sources informed that Mines and Geology Department has asked mining firms to suspend those mining trucks found violating the norms.
