-- Samir Umarye
*BICHOLIM, APRIL 26:* Residents of Bicholim along with their MLA Rajesh Patnekar have strongly demanded a separate road for mining traffic and have warned of an agitation if mining ore is allowed through the city. A decision to this effect was taken at the meeting in the deputy collector's office on Thursday. Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar, Bicholim RTO Gurudas Narvekar, Bicholim Mamletdar Pramod Bhat, PI Harish Madkaikar, BMC Chairman Anisha Vernekar, BMC deputy chairman Shashikant Naik Halarnkar, Councillors Kamlakar Teli, Premanand Mayekar, Karuna Govekar, Narayan Betkikar, Ajit Birje and Riyaaz Shekh were also present for the meeting. It may be stated that people from Bicholim had stopped mining traffic plying from Tivim to Amona via Bicholim, after accusing trucks of endangering the lives of the people. In view of the opposition, Deputy collector Narayan Gad had convened a joint meeting to discuss over the issue. During the meeting, some people suggested that the transportation should take place under the supervision of Bicholim Nagrik Kruti Samiti, headed by the MLA. At this point, there was great commotion as many angry people shouted that they are against mining traffic and hence the issue of supervision did not exist. Later, Patnekar suggested that the company should use the jetty of another mining company at Tivim. After the suggestion, the deputy collector held a meeting with two companies but was unable to resolve the issue. Both companies were unable to arrive at a consensus over the use of a single jetty. As talks did not yield the fruitful results, the deputy collector informed that a supervisory committee would be appointed in Bicholim next week to keep a check on mining traffic. Meanwhile, the Bicholim MLA has not supported the move of the deputy collector and has warned that if the problem is not solved soon, they would resort to an agitation.
