BAN RELAXED, NOW CONDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION OF ORE LUMPS

Teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Modifying the order banning ore transportation in the talukas of Quepem, Sanguem and Dharbandora, District Collector, South N D Agrawal on Wednesday granted conditional transportation of ore lumps, including a condition banning transportation for four hours in the morning and afternoon to ensure safety of school going children.
The order now mandates the companies to seek prior permission for transporting only iron ore lumps, giving details such as route and number of trips per day. The district administration will grant permission only for 15 days for such transportation and monitor the performance and the permission will stand cancelled in case of violations. The permission, however, will be renewed for a similar period if proper maintenance of the road is done without any obstruction and problem to the citizen.
Saying that any violation of the conditions will amount an offense under Section 188 of the IPC, the district Collector has authorised the village talathi, and incharges of the traffic cell and police station to file FIR against the violators of the order.
The order mandates mining trucks coming from the mining area to wash their tyres before advancing toward the tar road and that the mining trucks are banned from carrying lumps more than 10 metric tonnes.
Mining companies will be held responsible jointly and severely to wash the road by using water tankers and other pressure equipments at their own case if mud gets collected on the roads.
While stating that the trucks carrying material shall compulsorily be covered with tarpaulin or any other thick sheet, the order has directed the mining companies to hire security guards along the entire road to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
The order banning ore transportation had come into effect from June 11 and was scheduled to remain in force till September to ensure the safety of the citizens. However, mining companies, truck owners associations, workers unions called for the lifting of the ban on grounds the ban has hit their business, employment and financial conditions. The representations were made by A X Poi Palondicar, Pandurang Timblo Industries, Shraddha Ispat Pvt Ltd, Goa Sponge & Power Ltd, Vedanta Sesa Goa Ltd of Iron Ore Division as well as Pig Iron Ore Division, Sesa Goa Workers Union, Usgao, besides the village panchayat of Kirlapal-Dabal Dharbandora.