Bonai: Protesting heavy losses being incurred due to low freight rates for transportation of minerals, truck owners in Bonai of Sundergarh district resorted to an indefinite strike from today.
The diesel rate is increasing day by day while the State Government is imposing various taxes for transportation, the truck association alleged.
As a result, the owners are facing problems and at the same time poor road conditions have also attributed towards increased maintenance cost for tippers.
“We are not able to meet the maintenance expenses of the vehicles since we are not able to make any profit. Though we have appealed the district administration several times to hike the freight rate, no step has been taken in this regard. Hence we have resorted for an indefinite strike,” said Sanjib Khatua, a truck owner.
Bonai MLA Laxman Munda has also extended support to the truckers’ strike. The agitators threatened that they would intensify their stir if their demands are not fulfilled.