Truckers pine for comfort at cement plants

JOWAI: The East Jaintia Hills Drivers Association (EJHDA) has lodged a complaint against cement plants, including the Green Valley, Star Cement and JUD Cement among others, for lacking basic amenities for truckers such as drinking water, toilets, rest room, kitchen.
“We have received verbal complaints from truckers who are transporting cement and fly-ash to and from these cement plants and the association humbly brings these problems to your kind notice for necessary and prompt action,” a letter to the Deputy Commissioner stated.
The association conducted an inspection of the cement plants and found that the toilets of Green Valley in the parking lot are dirty and unhygienic.
Further, the cement plants do not have rest rooms and safe drinking water.
Upon inspection of the premises of Star Cement, it was found that the drivers are not allowed to use the rest room.
The plant also lacks safe and clean drinking water.
Star Cement also has filthy toilets and the management does not take the initiative to clean them.
The organisation has also learnt that JUD Cement does not have any toilet, nor has rest room or drinking water facilities.
“lt is pertinent to point out that the truck drivers have to wait for long hours in these cement factories to load cement and have to travel long.
‘‘The absence of a proper rest room has affected the truck drivers,’’ it added.
“They defecate in the open because of lack of toilets. Besides, the truck drivers require safe drinking water,” the association said.