Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) on the Truckers strike at the mineral bearing Joda area, which has paralyzed mineral transport from the mines. The truckers are on strike since the first day of this month demanding revision of mineral transport tariff.
The state government has issued the order and the local district authorities on Friday has handed over the orders to the leaders of the Joda Truck Owners Association and Joda mining Area Truck owners Association. Under the ESMA, the state administration would get more powers to take necessary actions to end the deadlock and bring back normalcy in mineral transport.
The Joda Mining Area Truckers Association is opposing the new rates of mineral transport through truck and has termed that the new rates fixed by the state government are not feasible and favoring only the miners and the user industry.
It may be noted that, with a view to streamline the mineral evacuation process and bring down the high cost of transportation, the Odisha government last year has decided to enforce ceiling price of mineral transport through road. However, the Joda Area Truck Owners Association and Joda mining Area Truck Owners Association had moved the Odisha High Court against the decision.
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