Quepem citizens actions againt mining transportation

The villagers of Copelabhat Quepem on November 19 2008 Wednesday evening gheraod the Assistant Director of Director of Transport Quepem Shri G.S. Narvekar over an hours over their inaction against the overloading mining truck.

That around 10 villagers barged into the cabin of the Assistant Director of Transport and question him about the action taken by his office against the overloading mining truck. Answering to the villagers the assistant Director of Transport informed the agitating villagers that their office has issued challans to the erring truck. Over which the villagers question the RTO officials if challans are issued than how the overloading of truck still continues and that too when they have to pass by the side of the RTO their office. But the RTO could not give satisfactory rely to the villagers. The irritated villagers then warned the RTO it they do not take action against the overloading truck then they will come on the road and block the mining truck without giving any prior intimation.

It may be recalled that the villagers by complaint dated 7/11/2008 brought to the notice of the RTO and other officers alleging of overloading of mining truck which result in spillage of ore thereby causing dust pollution and health hazards. They also brought to the notice of the officials about the non compliance of the notification issued by the Director of Transport laying guidelines to the mining truck.

The RTO then called the contractor Ashok Naik and directed him to load the truck properly failing which they will be forced to take action against the truck. The Assistant Director of Transport then assured the villagers that from tomorrow they will see that the truck are loaded properly. Over this assurance the villagers moved out from the RTO office and went to meet the Dy-Collector of Quepem. As Dy-Collector Venancio Furtado was not present in his office the villagers placed their grievances before the concerned officer with a request to communicate the same to the Dy-Collector.

John Fernandes