South Goa mining revival stalls due to truckers' protest
Local drivers in Sanvordem halted the movement of mining dumps to protest the use of vehicles from outside the area.
The revival of mining in South Goa has faced an early setback after local truck drivers in Sanvordem stopped the transportation of mining dumps on Thursday, according to Urban Acres.
The protesters are opposing the engagement of vehicles from outside the region and the method used by a mining firm to allocate trips. The local truck owners’ association is demanding that only trucks operating along the specific transportation route be used for the work.
A meeting held by the Sanguem deputy collector and an intervention by the police on Friday failed to resolve the dispute. While loaded trucks reached jetties under heavy police protection on Saturday, no new loading has taken place.
The disagreement comes as more mining leases in the South Goa belt prepare to start transport operations. Transporters who won tenders are expected to move dumps from leases along the Rivona-Sanguem route, and activity is also anticipated at the Kalay mineral block.
The dispute in Sanvordem is considered significant because the final arrangement could impact how truck engagement is managed on other routes. Authorities must settle the current deadlock before transportation expands to other mineral blocks and leases.