Keonjhar: Transportation of minerals in Joda mining area of Keonjhar district has been disrupted since Tuesday due to an agitation being staged by dumper and truck owners’ associations protesting skyrocketing of diesel prices. Members of the Mining Area Truck Owners’ Association, Joda have also joined the strike.
The vehicle owners have been demanding a rise in transportation fares for vehicles engaged in transportation in the mining circle since February. However the companies concerned have not taken any steps in this regard, rued the protestors.
“Besides the continuous rise in diesel prices, cost of spare parts and other related products has also increased. We have been urging the various mining companies to increase the transportation fees, but everything fell on deaf years. Protesting this, tipper owners have boycotted transportation of minerals to various mines,” said association vice-president Saroj Praharaj.
"The owners are bearing the brunt of diesel price hike. Rise in fees of vehicle insurance, fitness and other maintenance work has added to their woes," said association joint secretary Satyananda Karua, adding that the agitation would continue until their demand is fulfilled.