Margao: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday brokered a settlement in the Sanvordem mining transportation dispute that had stalled ore movement within days of its resumption after a gap of more than a decade.At a meeting attended by truck operators and members of the Sanvordem panchayat, it was decided that only trucks from the Sanvordem constituency would be engaged in the ongoing transportation work. Trucks from other areas will be accommodated as more mining routes become operational.Ore transportation in Sanvordem resumed last week but came to a halt on Thursday after local truckers blocked movement, objecting to the deployment of “outside” trucks. Efforts by police and the Sanguem deputy collector to resolve the impasse failed. Though loaded trucks were escorted to jetties under heavy police protection the next day, no fresh loading was undertaken.After the meeting, Sanvordem truck owners’ association president Vallabh Dalvi said only trucks from Sanvordem would be engaged in the current transportation operations.“As for other trucks, the CM said that they will be engaged in other routes which will open up shortly. We are ready for resuming transportation once the mining firm notifies us,” he said.Truck owner Sanket Bhandari said the dispute arose because the number of trucks exceeded the available work.“The CM said that iron ore transportation from the Cuddegal mine would begin soon, which will give business to trucks along that route. Transportation from Curpem and other mines will allow trucks from Curchorem and other areas to be engaged,” he said.The dispute had threatened to derail the revival of mining activity in South Goa, with local truckers maintaining that only vehicles from villages along the transportation route should be engaged to move mining dumps.Sources said transporters awarded tenders are expected to begin moving dumps from leases along the Rivona-Sanguem route shortly. Mining activity is also likely to commence soon at the Kalay mineral block, which is expected to significantly increase transportation activity and truck deployment.
