OLD GOA
Around 200 truckers transporting minor minerals like sand, stones, etc, for construction purpose got together to decide on ways to stop alleged harassment by authorities like the mines department, police and RTO.
At the meeting organised near Sai Baba temple at Kadamba Plateau, Chimbel, the truck owners highlighted that there is a need to stop the harassment, which otherwise would sound a death knell for their business.
"Everybody stops our trucks, from the mines department to the police and the RTO," a trucker Damodar Sawant informed while stating that even a hawaldar stops the trucks just to make a quick buck. "If such harassment continues, it would be difficult for us to survive in the business and our families will suffer," Sawant added.
Another trucker Dattaraj Dessai suggested that the mines department should issue them annual passes to transport the minerals, just like RTO tax.
"If they feel that something illegal is being transported, then they should penalize the owner from whom the mineral was brought and not the truck owner, just like it is done in Maharashtra," Dessai stated.
Later, it was decided to convene a bigger meeting at Porvorim, opposite Majestic Hotel, on September 24, where a new committee will be formed.
"We will also discuss and decide on the future course of action at the Porvorim meeting," another trucker Pratap Haldankar stated. Old Goa Panch Vishal Volvoikar was also present.
