Bhubaneswar: The United Truck Owners’ Association, which transports minor minerals in the state, has warned of an indefinite strike from November 10 if the government failed to accept its 11-point charter of demands by November 9.
A decision in this regard was taken at a joint meeting of 15 truck owners’ associations from 10 districts in Odisha called by the Khurda Truck Owners’ Association. They alleged that minor minerals truck owners are often subjected to undue fines and exploitation by the Transport and Minor Mines Departments. This is especially true for trucks carrying sand, they claimed.
“Despite repeatedly informing the government about this no action has been taken to alleviate their plights,” said Pranab Parida, president of the Khurda District Truck Owners’ Association. He warned that if the state government failed to fulfill their demands by November 9, more than 5,000 trucks carrying minor minerals will stop operations indefinitely.
