the goan I network
PONDA
According to reports, locals received information that a truck carrying ore had left the Codli mines and was proceeding to Amona. A group of locals then gathered at Dharbandora junction and stopped
the truck.
Mamlatdar Satish Prabhu and Ponda Police Inspector Sudesh Naik rushed to the spot to defuse the tension.
Speaking to The Goan, Dharbandora sarpanch Vinayak alias Balaji Gawas said they had stopped one truck carrying iron ore from Vedanta mines at Codli to the Amona plant on Thursday afternoon.
“We had clearly told Vedanta officials that they should not transport ore during monsoon and should follow the notification. Despite this, they started the transportation and hence, we stopped the truck,”
said Gawas.
“We will not allow them to transport ore during the monsoon,” warned the sarpanch.
“We showed the mamlatdar and police the notification from the mines department, stating that ore transportation cannot be carried out during monsoon. We proceeded to the deputy collector’s office and requested that transportation should not be carried,”
said Gawas.
“Deputy Collector Agnelo Fernandes went through the notification and the truck was then sent back to Codli,” Gawas added.
When contacted, Vedanta Operations Head Joseph Coelho claimed that the mines department had given them a relaxation from the notification to undertake the ore transportation activity.
“The government has allowed us to transport 600 trips per day. Of these, 400 trips are allowed to Amona, while 200 are allowed to Capxem,” said Coelho.
“Transportation to Capxem jetty is going on smoothly. We had sent only one truck on Thursday, but after opposition from locals, we brought it back to company,” he said.
Asked if they would continue ore transportation, Coelho replied: “We will take police protection for
the transportation.”
