PANAJI
Parsekar had in a meeting on Tuesday with truck owners and other mining area MLAs suggested payment of Rs. 9 per tonne per kilometer for the first 10 kilometers, Rs 8.5 per tonne per kilometer for 11 to 20 kilometers and Rs 8.5 per tonne per kilometer for 21 kilometers and above.
“I’m no one to dictate the rates but with today’s scenario it was important to get involved. And I have listened to both parties and made my suggestion. Today only a few mines have started. If the others want to start it is crucial for this transportation to start too,” he said.
He added that the Supreme court order on mining had left them with no alternative, but that with “all the hindrances removed, there is now the chance of resumption of mining.” He reiterated however, that the rates he proposed could not be notified and were merely suggestions.
In the last four years, he said, the state economy has suffered a loss of Rs 4,000 crore but despite this, truck owners were given incentives and settlements.
“I think it is high time now that the mines have started, the transportation has to start too. And for those that have not started, I will put pressure for them to start. I will pursue this. But today I have no face because there is no one to transport the ore. Therefore I request and appeal to all the truck owners and mine owners to accept the suggestions I’ve placed and to solve the problems,” said Parsekar.
He also urged mining associations to allow those that wanted to continue transportation to do so without any hindrances. If individual truck owners wanted to transport, he said they should be allowed to do so adding that the government would
support them.
The Chief Minister also suggested increasing the time for transporting ore from the current 6 am to 6 pm to 6 am to 10 pm. “We’ve decided to allow extension in the time for transporting though not in compulsion. For areas that are further away from localities, they can carry on transporting till 10,” he said.
