Truckers accuse cement cos of underpayment

SHILLONG: Vexed over underpayment of fare by the cement companies, the truck operators engaged in transporting raw materials to cement factories in Jaintia Hills have moved the state government for resolving the issue. They alleged that the factories were paying much lower fare than what was fixed by the Transport department.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Truck Owners Association met the Commissioner and Secretary of Transport on Wednesday seeking official intervention.
President of Jaintia Hills Truck Owners Association, Nidamon Chullet, said that
the rate fixed by the government was Rs 9 for a km per ton for a blacktopped road and Rs 10 per km for a dilapidated road, but the cement companies would pay half or less in complete violation of the government order.
A member of the JAC, Nehemiah Tyngkan, said that “the cement companies have been (arbitrarily) paying us Rs 4 or sometimes more and sometimes less”.
Transport minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said that East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner will call for talks and come to understanding between the two groups.
The minister clarified that the government had not fix any rate structure except putting a cap on the fare, adding that maximum rate anything below Rs 9 per km per ton would be mutually acceptable.
“We have to look at the larger interest of both groups. We have to see that there is no loss to both sides. We need to get their reviews,” he told reporters.
To quell the potential agitation by the truck owners, the Commissioner and Secretary of Transport said that the DC would call both sides for a dialogue on Thursday in East Jaintia Hills.