Truckers Transporting Minor Minerals In Odisha Threaten Strike From Nov 10

Bhubaneswar: The owners of the trucks transporting minerals in Odisha have threatened to start a state-wide strike from November 10 if the state government failed to accept their 11-point charter of demands by November 9.

The decision was taken at meeting of United Truck Owners’ Association and Khurda Truck Owners’ Association on Sunday. As many as 15 truck owners’ associations from 10 districts attended the meeting.

The truck owners expressed their resentment over harassment of the truck drivers by the officials of the transport and minor mines departments by imposing fines on different pleas.

Pranab Parida, president of the Khurda District Truck Owners’ Association, said the government had failed to take any remedial step despite their repeated appeals. “If the government fails to fulfill our demands by November 9, more than 5,000 trucks carrying minor minerals will stop operations indefinitely,” he said.

Besides this issue, the association has drawn up 10 other demands which it has sought the government to meet by the scheduled date. The strike would continue till the government fulfilled their demands, Parida said.