solan3 hours ago
After the closure of 2 factories in Himachal by ACC and Ambuja Cement Company, there is a ruckus. There is a stir among the workers and truck operators. They are angry and furious. Efforts are being made to resolve the ongoing dispute between the company and the truck operators since 2 days, but the efforts so far have been fruitless.
In this series, on the third day today there is a meeting of company officials and truck operators with the district administration in Solan and Bilaspur. The companies have closed the Darlaghat plant in Solan and the Barmana plant in Bilaspur. To resolve the dispute, today both the parties will appear before the DC of both the districts with the documents related to the case.
32 representatives of 8 truck societies will come to Solan
Solan will be headed by DC Solan Kritika Kulhari. 8 truck societies working in the Darlaghat factory have formed a core committee, in which 4 members of each committee have been included, to discuss this issue. 32 members of this committee will participate in the meeting with the administration. DC Solan had called a meeting on Thursday also, but the truck operators did not attend and the meeting lasted for 3 hours remained inconclusive.
Truck operators hit the road in Solan
The controversy over the closure of the factory in Solan has deepened to such an extent that truck operators took to the streets. On the one hand, people are troubled by the crisis of livelihood. On the other hand, the anger of the truck operators also erupted. Truck operators held a meeting in Darlaghat on Friday, after which they protested on the streets. Truck operators say that they are incurring a loss of Rs 1.5 crore daily due to the closure of the plant. This loss will not be tolerated.
Truck operators of 21 wards were called in Bilaspur
Today, all the members and transporters of 21 wards in Bilaspur will gather at Pukar Hall of BDTS in Barmana and prepare the future strategy for the struggle. Along with this, a peaceful protest rally will also be taken out from the BDTS office to the gate of the cement plant. On the other hand, truck operators have warned that if no positive step is taken soon regarding this issue, then all the truck operators, along with drivers and conductors will gherao the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Bilaspur.
External vehicles are not accepted for cement transportation
Hundreds of truck operators held a meeting in the auditorium of the Bilaspur District Truck Society (BDTS) office on Friday. In this, it was decided that outside vehicles would not be allowed to ply for cement transportation. If this is done by the ACC company, then all the operators will strongly oppose it and will not back down even from fierce agitation. If this happens then ACC management and district administration will be responsible for it.
The government issued a notice to both the companies and sought answers.
The Congress government of the state has also jumped into the fray for the closure of cement factories. The State Industries Department has issued a notice to Ambuja and ACC Cement Company regarding the closure of the factory and made them answerable. It has been clearly stated in the notice that without informing the government and keeping in mind the issue related to the employment of thousands of people, how the companies can close their institutions. The government wants to resolve the issue before the winter session of the Vidhan Sabha beginning on December 22.
Chief Secretary RD Dhiman also had a meeting
To resolve the dispute, a meeting of heads of various departments was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary RD Dhiman on Friday, which lasted for about 1 hour. Many top officials including Director of Industry Department, Managing Director of State Supply Corporation, Director of Transport Department were present in the meeting. In this, all concerned officials were asked to settle the dispute with the cement companies and truck unions.
Reason for dispute over freight
Explain that there is a dispute going on between the company management and the truck operators regarding freight charges. The company management closed the plant from Wednesday evening as the dispute was not resolved even after the meetings. Ambuja Cement Plant has recently been bought by Adani Group.
The company had asked truck operators societies engaged in transportation of cement, clinker and raw materials to reduce the rates. The company said through the letter that they are not ready to carry the freight at the current rate, as it is increasing the cost of production of cement. Due to this the company is facing loss.
The company wants transportation at a fixed rate in 2005
The company said that if this situation continues, cement production will have to be stopped. The company says that on October 18, 2005, the government had fixed the freight rate at Rs 6 per ton per kilometer. That’s why the societies will have to bear the freight at this rate.
On the other hand, the truck societies said that freight charges are due to increase from the year 2019. When the government had fixed the rate of freight, then it was said that the rate of diesel would increase, in the same proportion the freight would also increase.
Lock hanging at Barmana Cement Plant in Bilaspur.
About 15 thousand people were in trouble
Tell that due to the closure of the cement factory, there has been a crisis in the employment of about 2 thousand employees working in this company. Along with this, about 3 thousand truck operators, drivers and conductors will also be out of work in this factory. Due to this decision, there has been a crisis on the direct and indirect employment of about 15 thousand people. Ambuja Cement’s plant at Darlaghat produces 5 to 6 metric tons daily. From here cement is supplied across the country.