MARGAO
The South Goa Sand Transporters have threatened to stop all sand transporting trucks entering the State from across the State borders if the government does not permit the local owners to transport sand.
Pointing out that sand is being imported into Goa from Kudal-Maharashtra and Mangalore in Karnataka, the local sand transporters warned that they will be left with no option than to stop all these outstation vehicles transporting sand from entering into the State.
Addressing the media after a meeting at Cuncolim, the sand transporters made a fervent plea to the government to permit them to ply their vehicles to transport sand. “Our vehicles are lying idle with the government banning sand extraction and sand transportation. We have to pay the vehicle taxes and are finding it difficult to repay the loans,” he said.
He pointed out that sand transporting vehicle owners have been hard hit with the ban on sand extraction and transportation.
Many owners wondered how they are supposed to look after their families with their income from sand transportation coming to a halt for the last few months following the ban on transportation.
They demanded that the government work out a solution to their issue and urged the people of Goa to support them in their struggle.
“It is a sheer irony that while local sand transporters are forced to keep their vehicles idle, sand comes regularly into the State from Kudal and Mangalore. The police and the RTO stop our vehicles and impose fines, but these outstation vehicles enter the State with sand,” they claimed.
