the goan I network
MARGAO
The Salcete Truck Owners Association have warned the government to immediately stop contractors from engaging Karnataka registered vehicles for the transportation of mineral ore in the
state.
Addressing the media, Association president Franky Gomes said around 100 Karnataka registered trucks were engaged by the contractor to transport bauxite ore Betul, warning that this practice of engaging outside trucks at the cost of the livelihood of the local truck owners will not be tolerated.
He pointed out that Karnataka registered trucks have made a big presence in the state with the support of the government authorities when the local truck owners have been facing difficulties to make ends meet after shutdown in mining operations.
Claiming there are around 12,000 trucks registered in the state of Goa and are paying all the taxes to the government, Franky pointed out that a majority of the trucks have been lying idle after the mining shut down.
“We want the government to come to the rescue of the local truck owners by barring the contractors from engaging outside trucks to transport bauxite, coal, sand and other items in the state,” he said, while warning that the government will be solely responsible if any untoward incident occurs in the
state.
Franky feared that the transport contractor may leave the local truck owners in the lurch if they are not stopped from engaging the Karnataka registered trucks for transportation of the mineral ore and lamented that a letter made to the district Collector by the Association has not received any reply from the district authorities till date.
