PANAJI | Oct 12, 2017: The government has finally succeeded in finding an amicable solution to the ore transportation rates. Both mining truck owners and the mining companies have agreed on the rate proposed by the government. The mining firms have agreed to pay Rs 12.50 per tonne per kilometer for first 10 kilometers, Rs 12 for 10 to 20 kilometers and Rs 11.50 for 20 kilometer and above.

The government will issue a notification soon on the new rates for ore transportation, which will be applicable for the current mining season.

The long pending ore transportation rates issue was resolved in the meeting conveyed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday at the Secretariat, which will pave the way to commence ore transportation and mining activities for the new season soon.

The meeting was also attended by Transport Minister Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavlikar, Speaker of Goa Assembly and Sankhali MLA Pramod Sawant, Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, Sanvordem MLA Deepak Pauskar, the office bearers of All Goa Mining Truck Owner Association, officials of various mining firms besides officials of the directorate of mines and geology and transport department.

Truck owners have been demanding Rs 14 per tonne per kilometer for first 10 km, Rs 13.50 for 10 to 20 km and Rs 13 for 20 km and above, which the mining companies were not ready to accept citing slow down in mining business and decreasing iron ore price in the international market.

While speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’ Sanvordem MLA Pauskar said that the stakeholders are happy as the government has finally found a solution on the ore transportation rate, adding that both truck owners and the mining companies have agreed to accept the new rates proposed by the government.

He said that the government has assured to notify the new rates by October 13, which will pave the way to start ore transportation soon.

“I thank Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and Transport Minister Sudin Dhavlikar for their successful intervention in resolving the ore transport rates issue” the MGP MLA said, maintaining that with the resolution of the issue there should not be a problem to start ore transportation and mining activities in the state.

(Source: http://www.navhindtimes.in/)