Odisha government on Friday has decided to fix the mineral transport rates through electronic auction system. For this, the government would constitute District Level Committees in three mineral bearing districts to fix transportation of minerals through trucks in about 15 days. The decision was taken in a high level meeting chaired by the chief secretary.
Briefing about the outcome of the discussion among government officials and representatives from industries and mines, Director of Mines Deepak Mohanty said that the government has already decided to launch e-tendering module through OMC, where all the interested industries can participate. The launching of e-auction will take about a month or two, he said.
The transport agencies there have been charging exorbitantly to transport minerals. The local mafia engaged in handling these activities exercise monopoly on the transport, which at times result in law and order situations, they said and added this acts as deterrent to dispatch of minerals.
Mr Mohanty said, “It has been decided today to constitute District Level Technical Committees in Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Jajpur districts under the Chairmanship of Collectors. There will be other members like Deputy Director of Mines (DDM), Regional Transport Officer (RTO) and representatives from mines and industries. The committees so formed will study the rationale of mineral transport through roads i.e. trucks and fix transportation prices.”
They have been asked to initiate the process and submit report to the Commerce & Transport department within 15 days, Mohanty said adding the government will finalise the rates on the basis of the report and issue notices accordingly. The rates will be binding on all including truck owners and agencies concerned, Mr Mohanty said.
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