CM asks cement cos, transporters to resolve differences

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 7, 2020

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday said the state government has nothing to do with the differences between the industries and the transporters as it has done its part to revise the rates for heavy and medium goods vehicles.

“The state government has taken the decision to revise the rates after almost 18 years,” Sangma told reporters.

He said the rates have not been changed since 2002 and that is the reason why the MDA government very strongly felt that these rates have to be reviewed.

“It is this government that took this stand and in the last three-six months, we have finally taken the decision to revise the rates. After the revision of the rates, there is a difference between industries and the transporters, so it is not much to do with the government’s decision,” Sangma said.

His statement came in the wake of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising of the Jaintia Hills Truck Owners Association (JHTOA), All Jaintia Hills Clinkers & Cement Association (AJHCCA) and Meghalaya Truckers Union (MTU) re-staging their indefinite strike.

The members of JAC also displayed placards along the national highway while the chief minister was on his way to attend official functions at East Jaintia Hills district.

According to the JAC, the cement factories under the All Jaintia Cement Manufacturers Association (AJCMA) have failed to implement new rates despite giving assurances made in a meeting convened by the deputy commissioner on Thursday.

Cement and clinker loaded trucks were stopped and asked to go back to the cement factories by the JAC at Tahkhniang area under Tuber Kmaishnong village

Asked, the chief minister however said the issue that is building up between the industries and the transporters need to be worked out and assured that the government will do whatever it can to resolve the differences.