PANAJI
Crucial meetings of truck owners and two MLAs with Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar remained inconclusive on Thursday with truckers deciding to continue with their agitation demanding an increase in rates for transporting iron ore.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, however, said he will talk to mine owners and put forth the demands of truckers to find a solution.
The three-hour long meeting of truck owners with chief minister and other MLAs failed to convince the truckers to start transportation with the truck owners demanding an increase of upto Rs 11.27 per tonne per km.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, All Goa Truck Owners Association president Nilkanth Gawas said, “When we were protesting today near Wadakade, Usago, BJP State President Vinay Tendulkar, Tivim MLA Kiran Kandolkar and Sankhali MLA Pramod Sawant came and said that they are supporting us. They also suggested holding a meeting with the chief minister to finalise the transportation rates. But after coming here (Panaji) they were adamant on their earlier rates.”
Speaking further, Gawas said, “Even if mining is stopped entirely we are not bothered. We have already faced problems for past four years. We will not allow mining to start if the rates are not increased. After the chief minister requested us, we asked him for the same rate which was given in 2012. At that time the rate was Rs 11.27. Till our demands are not met, we will continue with our agitation.”
Lamenting that it was not possible to start transportation with Rs 8 per km per tonne, Gawas sighted the time restriction as well. "We earn Rs 1100 per trip of which Rs 600 is paid to the driver”, he said.
Sankhali MLA Pramod Sawant who was also present at the meeting said, “Today we had meeting with the chief minister to negotiate on the rates. All Goa Truck Owners Association has said that they can afford transportation with Rs 11.27 per tonne per km. The chief minister is also making efforts to find a solution. He would be in a position to speak after he meets officials of mining companies tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, after AGTOA members met the chief minister, the North and South Goa Truck Owners Association members also met the CM to put across their demands.
