Rourkela, July 24: A strike called by 16 mineral transporters' associations has hit iron and coal transportation in the industrial districts of Sundargarh and Keonjhar.
Nearly 30,000 transport workers are protesting against the state government's proposed move to cap transport cost and award transportation contracts through online tendering.
"We will continue with our agitation unless the government pays attention to our problems regarding price fixation," said Rourkela Tipper Owners' Association president Mitu Behuria.
Nearly 15,000 vehicles have remained off the road in Sundargarh with an equal number staying off in Keonjhar also. "If the government finalises the new tariff for mineral transportation, it will certainly kill the business here in the district," he said.
The decision to reduce the fare by Rs 75 per metric tonnes (PMT) by two big mining companies in the district was another blow for the transport workers, said Behuria.
"Every day, according to the mining minister's admission, the state is losing nearly Rs 12 crore, which is a big amount," he said.
Sundargarh Truck Owners' Association general secretary Santosh Kumar Nayak said they were lending moral support to the strike.
"No, it is not coal but mostly iron ore transportation that has been affected. And from Sundargarh, we are not sending any truck for iron ore transportation," he said.
Iron ore producers have been the most hit by the truckers' strike with production in many units remained paralysed. "We are functioning at 30 to 40 per cent of installed capacity for the high cost of iron ore and presently sustaining on our reserve. If the strike continues, the situation will worsen for all," said a sponge iron producer.
A slightly contrary view emerged from Gouri Prasada Agarwal, one such unit owner and part of the Odisha Sponge Iron Owner Manufacturers' Association. "The industry is not much disturbed as we are suffering from the high price of the minerals. And we have no problem with the transporters, but something should be done to stop the strike," he said.
