Truck union calls for tough action against Cement company
Truck truck unions engaged in transportation of Cement and raw material have calls the state government to take tough action against the monopolies of big Corporate house which have closed down Ambuja and Bharmana cement plants without informing district and state Administration. President of Ambuja Truck union Ramkrishna sharma said in a press statement issued here today that they fully endorse the call of Government to restore the plants and after failing of talk state should explore possibilities of rescinding the Licensees of these monopolistic houses and invite bids for takeover as there is need to show teeth. He said that after a recent Court matter pending in Himachal Pradesh High court Cement plants are trying to push truck unions to bear the inflation of transport cost without compromising their profits and increasing prices of cement on the name increasing cost of transport. A letter was forwarded to truck Union by Cement companies to regarding fixation of freight rates as per Permanent Standing Committee’s recommendations. Cement plants are blaming transporters for hike the price of cement plants . Letter issued by Ambuja Cement plants maintain that Plants at Darlaghat , is under severe pressure to reduce cost of operations to sustain in the market in the current market scenario , due to the high transportation cost they are finding it very difficult to compete in the market and if this situation continues our Plants will become unviable . We have been requesting you to reduce freight for transportation of our goods and material (Cement, Clinker and Raw Material), but due to your adamant attitude we are being compelled to pay exorbitant freight which is way higher than the prevailing market rates plant management said. Cement company are referring about 17 yrs old notification in which a high level Committee fixed Freight Rates of Goods Carriage in Himachal Pradesh’ as freight rate comes to Rs.6.00 PTPK. These rates have been calculated considering all parameters, as suggested by the Permanent Committee. We request you to reduce the existing prevailing freight to Rs.6.00 PTPK for transportation of our goods / material , failing which we shall be constrained to engage other transporters for transporting our goods or materials at these rates or to stop operations at our Darlaghat Units to prevent loss on account of high transportation costs, Cement firms said. It is worthwhile to mention that Deputy Commissioners Bilaspur and Solan convened a meeting with Bharmana and Ambuja Cement plants management today which is pressurizing Truck union or transport to reduce the Transport costs. Now Administration likely to calls truck unions to discuss the issue to resolve the matter. Both the cement plants came to grinding halts today as deadlock continue. Cement plants are blamed by people of state to sell Cement on exorbitant prices and availability of Cement in other states are less than Himachal Pradesh as three main plants are set up in Himachal Pradesh.
