SHILLONG, NOV 27: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Transport Sniawbhalang Dhar has announced that cement manufacturers have agreed to allocate 120 trucks daily for local transporters, with 100 trucks starting from Thursday and another 20 from December 1.
The agreement was reached during a meeting held with the representatives of the 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.
The transporter associations had requested priority for local people, increasing the quota from 80 trucks to 120 trucks daily.
“Today, 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,” Dhar told reporters after the meeting.
Regarding interstate movement 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 of Meghalaya to notify the rate for other states,” Dhar said while quoting the legal opinion submitted by the Advocate General.
He added that interstate rates will be market-driven, while intrastate movement rates are fixed at Rs 9 per metric tonne/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 on the issue of alleged exorbitant rates of cement in the state.
“A meeting will be convened with cement manufacturers to discuss cement prices,”he announced.
By Our Reporter
