Yeddy Proposes Levy of Hefty Toll on Iron Ore Trucks
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
BANGALORE, AUG 4: Trucks overloaded with iron ore and other minerals, causing immense damages to roads and bridges is an all too familiar story for people living in the coastal region and the mining regions of Karnataka. So is the case with the damages to the roads in Shirady and Charmady ghat section and the consequent inconveniences to the general public.
And now, for the first time, the BJP government headed by chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has proposed to levy hefty toll charges on all trucks plying laden with iron ore and other minerals ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1000 on every truck transporting ores or minerals from the mining region.
The state cabinet, at its meeting on Tuesday, has decided to constitute an high-level official committee to suggest slabs of toll rates to be levied on the trucks. Different toll rates would be collected based on type and quantity ore transported and the distance involved in transportation from the mining areas.
The revenue generated from the levy of toll charges on trucks would be utilised exclusively for maintenance of the roads in the mining region and other damaged highways.
Karnataka exports 47 million tonnes of iron from Bellary, Bagalkot and Gulbarga districts. The state has nearly 10,000 million tonnes of iron ore deposits and produces around 50 million tonnes of iron ore annually. About 100 miners obtained permissions to extract different types of ore, according to official sources.
The state cabinet is also understood to have decided to construct a truck terminus in a 16.20 acre plot of land at Nanjangud in Mysore district on the lines of the Devaraj Urs Truck Terminus at Yeshwanthpur in Bangalore at an estimated cost of Rs 21.60 crore.
Though the government had originally proposed to construct the truck terminus at Mysore on a private-public-partnership model, the government is learnt to have decided to go ahead on its won in view of the lack of interest evinced by private companies to ensure parking facilities for at least 1000 heavy trucks and other related facilities. A sum of Rs 13.05 crore would be released for the work in the first phase,
The terminal will have two-storied building, booking office, canteen, a health clinic, petrol/diesel station, cleaning facility, spare parts shop and other facilities, official sources said indicating that proposals for construction of similar terminals have come from Shimoga, Bellary, Dharwad and other districts.
The cabinet took a decision to release Rs 9.57 crore for implementing the rainwater harvesting method in 10 districts. The 10 districts are: Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shimoga, Uttara Kannada, Chikmagalur, Kodagu, Hassan, Dharwad, Belgaum and Davangere districts.
Funds would be utilised for constructing small ponds and structures to harvest rain water. These districts, usually, receive heavy rains during the monsoon
In another decision, the state cabinet is understood to have approved a proposal on fixing the term of the presidents and vice-presidents of the 146 Agricultural Produce and Marketing Committees (APMCs) in the state for 20 months. The APMCs would have a five-year term, but the term of the presidents and vice-presidents would be 20 months.
The president and vice-president could be removed by means of a no-confidence motion passed by a two-third majority as against the previous system of removal by a simple majority.
The cabinet also decided to establish Goshalas or cattle raring centres in 50 taluks in the first phase. A sum of Rs 10 lakh would be released to non-governmental organisations to set up each Goshala for protection of milch cattle wealth, sources said.