Govt invokes ESMA to disallow transporters from joining strike

PANAJI: In view of the indefinite strike call given by the All India Motor Transport Congress from July 20, the state government has invoked Goa Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1988, to keep away Goan transporters from participating in the agitation.
The government has prohibited every form of strike in transport services for carriage of passengers or goods by land or water in the state with immediate effect as per sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the said act, said additional secretary (home) Narayan Sawant.
The Ponda Goods Transport Association (PGTA), which has submitted a memorandum to the local MPs and district magistrates of North and South Goa, said transporters across the country had supported the government during demonetization, rollout of GST and electronic or e-way bill, but the government has failed to empathize with and address the issues plaguing the sector.
The memorandum said some of the key concerns that need to addressed urgently are continual and abnormal price hike of diesel, non-transparent tolls and exorbitant hike in third party premium. The government should also look into the issues of enhancement of presumptive income by amending the e-way bill, national permit for buses and tourist vehicles, abolition of the Direct Port Delivery (DPD) tendering system and streamlining of port congestion.
“We have made ample representations to the government and tried to persuade it to address the critical issues, but the government seems to have taken the transport sector for granted and has only doled out false assurances,” the PGTA said.
Hair-thin margins, delayed payments and high interests on working capital have led to extreme discontentment in the sector and it’s time for the government to take note of the situation, the memorandum added.