Truck owners stall coal, iron ore supply for more freightage

Mail News Service

Chaibasa, Feb 21: Truck owners of Badajamda in West Singhbhum here announced to stop all coal and iron ore transportation activities in Balaji Sponge Plant in support of their demand for a hike in freightage and other demands.

Members of Badajamda Mining Area Truck Owner Association Monday announced that the work of coal and iron ore transportation in the said company had been stopped for now in support of their various demands.

The Association general secretary Uma Shankar Nishad said, “We had submitted a memorandum to the company authorities on behalf of the Association and demanded that local transporters should be given priority in transportation work and that the freight tariff is increased. But apparently, so far no positive steps have been taken by the company which is why we are compelled to go on indefinite agitation.”

Nishad said the local truckers get work only four to five days a month. He said a very low amount of freight is paid to them notwithstanding inflation. He said the coal and iron ore freight charges should be increased by Rs 30 per tonne to reach Rs 125 and Rs 130 per tonne tariff level respectively.