MARGAO: Salcete Truck Owners’ Association president Franky Gomes urged the government to stop all outside trucks operating at Betul bauxite plant and warned the government of agitation if the no action is taken. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Gomes said, "Despite giving memorandum to the South Goa District Collector Ajit Roy to take action against the outside trucks operating in Goa and especially in coal transportation and also at Betul bauxite, no action has been taken by the authorities. And as a result, Goan trucks owners are deprived of their livelihood.”
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He further said that there are almost 100 trucks from Karnataka are operating at Betul bauxite. And Goan trucks are not allowed over there. Recently we had objected to this, but now the company is operational with those outside owners with the help of police protection. "Everyone knows that the mining ban has created havoc in the State. It has badly affected the Goan truck owners. There are more than 12,000 trucks owned by Goan are lying ideal. And despite knowing the fact the government is not at all interested to give livelihood to those truck owners. The government should have given priority to the Goan truck owners wherever there are opportunities available. But, presently the government is doing injustice to Goans by allowing the outside trucks to operate in Goa,” he alleged.
Franky also demanded to stop all those Karnataka based trucks or they will sit on protest. "Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant needs to intervene in the above matter and resolve the issue. He should protect the interest of Goan truck owners and not of outsiders,” Franky urged. It may be recalled that recently outside trucks were blocked by local truck owners demanding to give priority to Goans. Since then, the concerned company has been operating their business with the help of police protection.