Curchorem: A newly formed organisation representing mining truck owners and machinery owners has sought tax relief, faster auction of mining blocks and a revision in transport rates, saying its members have remained without work since the suspension of mining operations.
“The earlier South Goa Progressive Truck Owners’ Association, which represented truck owners before the government, had stopped functioning. The new association has been formed to represent the interests of truck owners, machinery owners and other dependants,” said South Goa Mining Trucks and Machinery Owners and Other Dependents Association (SGMTMODA) president Baburao Naik.
Association secretary Laximan Desai said the enrolment of members was under way and that a memorandum outlining the association’s demands was submitted to the Chief Minister.
The association said that under a December 26, 2025, notification, road tax had been exempted for the period from 2020-2026 and for 2026-27. However, it alleged that the Zonal RTO office had stated that the notification was not applicable to truck owners.
The association said its trucks and machinery have remained idle since September 2012 due to the lack of mining activity.
It also said that truck permits are required to be renewed one month before expiry, failing which a penalty of Rs 3,500 is imposed. If renewal is delayed by another five months, the penalty increases to Rs 5,000. As the trucks have remained idle for want of work, the association sought relaxation from these penalties.
The association also sought the auction of two to four mining blocks to generate employment for truck owners, a revision of transport rates, and exemption from taxes, fitness and inspection charges, permit penalties and other levies until 2040.
It said these charges together amount to Rs 35,120 and appealed to the government to provide relief to protect truck owners’ livelihoods.
