Minor Minerals Transporting Truck Owners’ Associations in Odisha warn of stir from October 10

Minor Minerals Transporting Truck Owners’ Associations in Odisha have threatened to go on a strike from October 10 if their demands are not fulfilled by October 9.

The decision has been taken in a joint meeting by as many as 15 truck owners’ associations of 10 districts in response to the call by Khordha Truck Owners’ Association.

The truck owners’ associations of different districts have demanded that their problems related to sand transportation should be solved and their 10-point demands should be fulfilled by October 9. Otherwise, they will go on a strike starting from the next day and it will continue till their demands are fulfilled. 

As per sources, more than 5,000 trucks will be involved in the strike.

As per the members of the truck associations, they have to bear the wrath of the officials of the minor mineral and transport departments and pay heavy fines as there is no lawful system for the transportation of sand from the rivers.

They further alleged that their repeated pleas in this regard before the government have fallen on deaf ears.

“We are facing many problems while transporting sand from the rivers for a long time. Though we have been requesting the government to solve these issues, it has so far fallen on deaf ears. Therefore, all the 15 associations have decided that we will go on strike from October 10 if our lawful demands are not fulfilled by October 9,” said Pranab Kumar Parija, president of Khordha District Truck Owners’ Association.