Govt won’t interfere in inter-state rates for cement transportation
Shillong, Nov 28: In a significant development towards resolving truckers’ demands, cement manufacturers have agreed to increase the daily quota of local trucks to 120 trucks from December 1.
“The cement manufacturers have agreed to 120 trucks as per demands by the truck drivers’ and owners’ associations. Immediately, 100 trucks will start from tomorrow itself and another 20 will start from December 1,” Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Transport Sniawbhalang Dhar said while announcing the agreement reached at a meeting between cement manufacturers and truck operators on Thursday.
Representatives of Jaintia Hills Cement Manufacturers Association (JHCMA) and three major transporter associations – Jaintia Hills Truck Owners & Drivers Association, East Jaintia Hills Truck Owners & Transporter Association, and Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners & Drivers Association attended the meeting.
The transporter associations had asked for increase in the quota for local trucks from existing 80 to 120 trucks daily.
On inter-state transport rates, the state government has received legal opinion stating it cannot notify rates for other states.
“Legally, it was not possible for the state government to notify the rate for other states,” Dhar said while quoting the legal opinion submitted by the Advocate General.
Dhar also noted that the inter-state rates will be market-driven while intra-state movement rate has been fixed at Rs 9 per MT per km.
However, cement manufacturers argue the Rs 9 rate is “uneconomic” and may lead to higher cement prices.
“(During the meeting) the cement manufacturers keep telling the transporter associations that Rs 9 is too high and requested them (to reconsider),” Dhar said while urging both parties to negotiate and settle the issue at their level.
“I think the cement manufacturers and transporters may again sit for negotiation.”
The deputy chief minister also informed that he along with deputy chief minister in-charge Home Prestone Tynsong had discussed the issue of alleged exorbitant rates of cement in the state.
“A meeting will be convened with cement manufacturers to discuss cement prices,” he said.
