JOWAI: The All Jaintia Cement Transporters’ Association (AJCTA) has submitted a memorandum to the Commissioner of Transport Department with copies to the Chief Minister, Transport Minister and also to the Chief Secretary demanding hike in the transportation charges for cements and clinker.
“We request the Transport Department to implement the government notification dated August 10, 2018 which hikes the transportation charges for all goods carrier trucks and lorries,” the memorandum stated.
The AJCTA further stated that members of the association are engaging in the transportation of goods from within the state to various destinations, especially the goods from various cement plants from Elaka Narpuh in East Jaintia Hills and the Meghalaya Transport department has in 2018 revised the transportation rate including food stuff and forest goods with Rs. 0.070 paise per quintal per kilometer and for other goods including furniture with Rs. Rs.1.75 per quintal per kilometer.
“The cement plants operating in East Jaintia Hills are not implementing the Government order notified since 2018. And the non-implementation of the order or notification has affected the truck owners and members of the association and we have to pay all kinds of taxes and even EMI in banks for our trucks that we have purchased,” the association said.
It also informed that till date the transportation charges paid by all cement plants is only Rs. 0.35 per quintal per kilometer despite cement plants enjoying the margin of profits which were supposed to be the share of the transporters engaged by them to transport their goods to various destinations across Northeast India and to other parts of India and beyond.
The association has urged the government to intervene into the matter as the transporters provide revenue to the state government.
