Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Odisha Truck Owners’ Association (OTOA) has called for a state-wide strike from the midnight of January 11 over a five-point charter of demands.
This was announced by OTOA president Bibhuti Prasad Das at a presser organised at the office of the Khuntuni Truck Owners’ Association in Cuttack district.
Das said that they are opposing the government’s order for scrapping of vehicles that are older than 15 years.
He said that they are demanding to increase it to 20 years.
We have apprised the government about our five-point charter of demands which includes the above, he added.
But the government hasn’t taken any decision on that till date, he added.
He further said, mainly to prevent pollution, the government is asking to scrap the vehicles which are over 15 years old. In that case, many private vehicles will be removed from the road. Along with this, commercial vehicles will be also scrapped. As a result, the livelihood of many people will be affected.
Das asked are we talking about pollution only from other vehicles and trucks? Forty five percent of the pollution comes from industries, he added.
The pollution in the truck is from its engine, so we proposed that we should be allowed to install new engines, he said. As a result there will be no pollution. Does truck body cause pollution? he asked.
Several such proposals of ours are not being accepted by the government, he added. Das stated that the government is not listening to them and is neither inviting them for a discussion.
If the government does not pay attention to our demands, movement of truck will be stopped from midnight on 11th, cautioned Das.
He claimed that the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has extended its support to the strike call of the OTOA .
