Dikhyaa Mohanty 
If the government does not agree to its 11-point charter of demands by November 9, the United Truck Owners’ Association, which transports minor minerals in the state, has threatened to go on indefinite strike starting on November 10. The Khurda Truck Owners’ Association organized a combined meeting of 15 truck owners’ associations from ten districts in Odisha, where a resolution was made in this respect. They claimed that the Transport and small Mines Departments frequently abuse small minerals truck owners and impose excessive fines on them. They asserted that this is particularly true for vehicles transporting sand.
The head of the Khurda District Truck Owners’ Association, Pranab Parida, stated that “no action has been taken to alleviate their plight despite repeatedly informing the government about this.” He issued a warning that over 5,000 trucks transporting minor minerals will cease operations permanently if the state government did not comply with their requests by November 9.
