Captured by : Vedanta halts ore transportation on Thursday_2
PONDA
Vedanta Sesa Goa suspended ore transportation on Thursday, in view of the ongoing agitation by the protesting truck operators at Usgao.
Police teams stationed at the site, to facilitate the smooth transportation of iron ore from Codli to Amona, were taken by surprise on Thursday, when the protesting truck operators shifted their agitation from the circle to the bridge at Barajann-Usgao.
Joint Mamlatdar Abhir Hede, DySP Sunita Sawant, Collem PI Nilesh Dhaimodkar and Ponda PI Sudesh Naik were present at the site. Heavy police force, including lady constables, were deployed at the circle in Usgao.
The protesters then shifted the base of their agitation and walked 1 km away to the bridge and camped there. In response, the police teams were forced to move there to maintain law and order.
A few minutes later, the protesters then returned to their original base, prompting the bewildered police to follow suit.
The police teams then withdrew from the site after they were informed that ore transportation had been kept on hold for a day.
The decision to halt ore transportation was met with skepticism among the protesting truck operators, as they suspected that it could be a ploy by the company.
All Goa Truck Owners Association (AGTOA) President Nilkanth Gawas appealed to his members not to leave the place and to be united.
“They may resume transportation in the evening like they did on Wednesday. Hence, we will stay here till sunset,” said Gawas.
One AGTOA member video filmed the police protection provided to Vedanta during the ore transportation. Since the last two days, the protesters have been demanding an inquiry into the government's decision to provide police protection to Vedanta.
