Making it clear that the state government had nothing to do with the difference that cropped up between the industries and the transporters, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Saturday the government had done its part to revise the rates for heavy and medium goods vehicles, which had not been changed since 2002.
“The state government has taken the decision to revise the rates after almost 18 years,” Sangma told reporters and added that the MDA government felt that the old rates had to be reviewed.
“It is this government that took this stand and in the last three-six months, we have finally taken decision to revise the rates. After revision of the rates, there is a difference between industries and the transporters, so it is not much to do with the government’s decision,” he said.
Sangma’s statement came in the wake of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) which comprised of the Jaintia Hills Truck Owners Association (JHTOA), Jaintia Hills Clinkers & Cement Association (JHCCA) and Meghalaya Truckers Union (MTU) re-staging their indefinite strike.
The JAC members displayed placards along the travelling route of the Chief Minister on national highway while he was en-route to East Jaintia Hills for an official function.
According to the JAC, the cement factories under the All Jaintia Cement Manufactures Association (AJCMA) have failed to implement new rates despite giving assurances made in a meeting convened by the East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner on Friday.
Cement and clinker loaded trucks were stopped and asked to go back to the cement factories by the JAC at Tahkhniang under Tuber Kmaishnong Village
Asked on the matter, the Chief Minister, however, said the issue between the industries and the transporters need to be worked out and assured that the government will do whatever it can to resolve the differences.
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