Darjeeling, Aug. 13: Truckers have called a 24-hour general strike across the Darjeeling hills on August 26 to protest against the failure of the administration to reopen National Highway 55, popularly known as Hill Cart Road, which was badly damaged by a landslide at Pagla Jhora.
The decision was taken by the Darjeeling Truck Drivers’ Association today at a meeting, which was also attended by the Darjeeling Truck Owners’ Association and the Darjeeling Path Pasala Sangh.
General secretary of the drivers’ association Ganesh Pradhan, however, said they had decided to start pick-up vans from tomorrow and trucks from Monday, “in the interest of the general public”.
Truckers went on an indefinite strike from August 11, protesting against the failure of the government to clear the road for over a month and also against increased harassment by local people while plying through the alternative routes of Mirik, Mungpoo and Rohini.
Pradhan demanded that NH-55 should be handed over to the General Reserve Engineering Force or the Border Roads Organisation for better maintenance.
Darjeeling district magistrate Hriydesh Mohan said restoration work of Hill Cart Road was proving to be difficult at Pagla Jhora as the entire area was a sinking zone. “The authorities have, however, got their act together and are trying their best and the highway should be opened shortly,” he said.
He, however, refused to specify any date for re-opening of the road. Mohan said because of the sinking area, they were trying to explore alternatives to the jhora as it had “started becoming an annual occurrence”.
The association, however, maintained that they had decided to serve an ultimatum on the district officials to restore the roads by August 31. “If the administration fails to do so we will hold another meeting of the associations on September 1 and will finalise a date to start a 72 hour transport strike in the Hills”, said Pradhan.
With NH 55 closed due to landslides, essential commodities to Darjeeling and Kurseong are being brought through other alternative routes like the Giddhepahar and Mungpoo routes, since July.
