Salcete truck owners addressing the media on the transportation of coal from the MPT.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Claiming that Karnataka-registered trucks are being deployed for coal transportation, the Salcete truck owners have sought the intervention of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to ensure that Goan-registered trucks get the business of transporting coal from the Mormugao Port Trust.
The Association also trained its guns at Congress-turned-BJP MLA Sankalp Amonkar for opposing coal when in the Congress and now supporting coal transportation from the MPT.
Addressing the media, Salcete Truck Owners Association president Franky Gomes alleged that a contractor from Solapur-Maharashtra, who has bagged the tender, has brought trucks from Karnataka to transport coal from the MPT.
He said the Mormugao MLA had been critical of coal when he was in the Congress, adding that Amonkar now supports the transportation of coal by the Karnataka-registered trucks.
Davorlim Sarpanch Herculano Niasso said many Goan trucks have been stranded on the roads for want of business after the mining closure, adding that transportation of coal from the MPT had helped them to eke a living.
He, however, lamented that trucks owned by Goans are not given preference in the transportation of coal from the MPT.
Another truck owner Vallabh made a fervent plea to the Chief Minister and ensure that the Goan truck owners get the business in the transportation of coal from the MPT.
