Truckersrs urge government to take action against cement plant management
Peeved at the decision of closing of Ambuja (Adani) cement plant at Darlagaht in Solan district, thousands of truckers today held a “Mahapanchayat” to chalk out further strategy against the Adani cement plant management at Darlaghat under Arki sub division in this district, on Friday.
The slogan shouting truckers along with hundreds of cement plant employees and local people assembled at Darla and urged the union as well as state government to initiate immediate effective steps to terminate the ongoing stand off between the transporters and company management in the larger interest of the development of the region. The protesters with voice demanded that large number of farmers of the region had given their cultivable land for the setting up of cement plant and as per the agreement signed between them, company was bound to provide ample opportunities of the employment to the locals. However, the decision of closing of the plant would certainly invite unwarranted tension and controversy. The agitators said that freight charges were hiked in accordance with the rates of diesel and patrol as the prices of other materials have also increased manifold after corona pandemic.
The truckers urged the congress government to take tough action against the monopolies of big corporate house which have closed down Ambuza and Bharmana cement plants without informing district and state Administration.
President of Ambuza Truck union Ramkrishna Sharma said that they fully endorse the call of Government to restore the plants and after failing of talk state should explore possibilities of rescinding the Licensees of these monopolistic houses and invite bids for takeover as there is need to show teeth. He said that after a recent Court matter pending in Himachal Pradesh High court, managements of Cement plants are trying to push truck unions to bear the inflation of transport cost without compromising their profits and increasing prices of cement on the name increasing cost of transport.
A letter was forwarded to truck Union by Cement companies to regarding fixation of freight rates as per Permanent Standing Committee’s recommendations. Letter issued by Ambuza Cement plants maintain that Plants at Darlaghat, is under severe pressure to reduce cost of operations to sustain in the market in the current market scenario, due to the high transportation cost they are finding it very difficult to compete in the market and if this situation continues our Plants will become unviable.
“We have been requesting you to reduce freight for transportation of our goods and material (Cement, Clinker and Raw Material), but due to your adamant attitude we are being compelled to pay exorbitant freight which is way higher than the prevailing market rates” plant management said. Cement company are referring about 17 yrs. old notification in which a high-level Committee fixed Freight Rates of Goods Carriage in Himachal Pradesh’ as freight rate comes to Rs.6.00 PTPK. These rates have been calculated considering all parameters, as suggested by the Permanent Committee. We request you to reduce the existing prevailing freight to Rs.6.00 PTPK for transportation of our goods / material, failing which we shall be constrained to engage other transporters for transporting our goods or materials at these rates or to stop operations at Darlaghat Units to prevent loss on account of high transportation costs, Cement firm’s official said.
Meanwhile, thousands of truckers after holding the “Mahapanchayat” held a dharna outside the main gate of the Ambuja (Adani) cement plant and raised anti management slogans. The protesters announced that the agitation would be continued till the acceptance of their demand including resorting the production operations, failing which they were ready to go to jails.
