Truckers gherao Keonjhar collectorate demanding withdrawal of order on iron ore transportation. Telegraph picture

Keonjhar, Nov. 8: Thousands of truck owners, hailing from across the mineral-rich district, today laid a siege to the district collector’s office for two hours, protesting against the state government’s recent decision to ban transport of iron ore by trucks.

They were demanding immediate withdrawal of the order.

The truckers took out a rally that converged at the collector’s office. They also held a protest meeting there.

“The decision to ban transportation of iron ore from mines to port by trucks will have a far reaching effect on at least 20 lakh people across the district. Keonjhar will turn into one of the poorest districts if the trucks are out of the service. We urge the government to study in depth of the fall out of this decision and revoke it in the interest of lakhs of people across the state,” said secretary of Keonjhar District Truck Owners’ Association Pradip Kumar Barik.

“The people of Keonjhar are with us and we can go to any extent to protest against the anti-people decision of the state government,” said Barik.

“Many of our truckers have procured vehicles after taking loans from banks or other financial institutions. If the trucks go out of service, there will be no other option but to commit suicide,” said executive committee member of the association Bhagaban Sahu.

“Illegal mining and transportation of ore cannot be curbed by only banning transportation of minerals by trucks. Other steps should be taken to effectively curb the illegal transportation of minerals,” said Prasanna Baral, a truck owner, who participated in the agitation.

Later, a delegation of the association submitted a memorandum addressed to chief minister Naveen Patnaik through local additional district magistrate Braja Kishore Nayak. They urged the government to revoke the decision.

Massive deployment of police was made in and around the collector’s office to prevent any untoward incident. “The rally passed off peacefully,” said Keonjhar superintendent of police Ashis Kumar Singh.