Truckers begin moving ore from Bicholim mine

13 November 2017

Transportation of iron ore from Vedanta’s mine in Bicholim to the Sarmanas jetty, which was suspended last week, resumed on Friday, after the Bicholim Taluka Truck Owners Association agreed to move ore as per the rates finalised during Wednesday’s meeting with chief minister Manohar Parrikar. Ore transportation from the mining conglomerate’s mine at Codli, Sanguem, however, remains unresolved.

The issue at Bicholim had surfaced after the monsoon break, when the truck owners association demanded Rs 14.50 per kilometre to transport one tonne of iron ore. Vedanta, however, had decided to stick to the official rate of Rs 12.50. A delegation of the truck owners association subsequently met the chief minister, together with Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar, Mayem MLA Pravin Zantye, and representatives of the mining firm, to iron out the issue.

During the meeting, Vedanta’s representatives agreed to pay the truck drivers Rs 13.26 per tonne, per kilometre. Parrikar also assured to hold talks with the mining company after a fortnight to discussion a revision of transportation rates, prompting the truck owners association to resume the transportation of iron ore from Friday.

“As the company (Vedanta) was ready to pay the official rate of Rs 12.50 per tonne, per kilometre, and an additional 76 paise as demanded by us to compensate the excessive usage of fuel due to the uneven ore transportation route, we agreed to resume our services. Transporatation will now remain uninterrupted,” association secretary Subhash Kinalkar, said.

Source: TOI