PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Nov 15: Two outfits – The Jamshedpur Truck and Trailer Owners Association and The Jamshedpur Truck and Trailer Owners Welfare Association today vehemently opposed Tata Steel’s alleged decision of not abiding by the government’s 15 years vehicle scrapping policy in its transport tender which opened today.
Describing it as a ‘Draconian Rule’ president of The Jamshedpur Truck and Trailer Owners Welfare Association, Kulvinder Singh Pannu demanded its immediate roll back or else he said the transporters would be compelled to undertake an agitation and block the company gate preventing movement of vehicles.
The voluntary vehicle scrapping policy announced in the Union Budget for 2021-22 provides for a fitness test after 20 years for personal vehicles while commercial vehicles would require it after the completion of 15 years.
The senior functionary of the Jamshedpur Truck and Trailer Owners Welfare Association said that a strong resentment was prevailing among transporters over the company’s move of reducing the years of fitness below 15 years.
Moreover, the truck and trailer owners transporting goods for Tata Steel have been also demanding better tariff from the company.
A section of transporters alleged that the registered vendors are indulging in highhandedness and are not increasing their tariff.
Hassan Khan, vice- president of Jamshedpur Truck and Trailer Owners Association said, “Tata Steel has not increased goods transportation tariff to the registered vendors, the latter are too paying us as per the old rate. This has led to the sufferings of numerous transporters. Moreover, the company should follow the 15 years rule norm pertaining to fitness of vehicles.”
Transporters demanded that the company must ensure payment of 20 percent more fare in the new tender due to an increase in prices of commercial vehicles and huge increase in the prices of tires and diesel.
A rough estimate suggests that over 5000 truck and trailer owners work through registered vendors of Tata Steel.
They transport steel metal, billets and TMT bars from Tata Steel and other companies to different parts of the country.
The members of the association went on to say that if such a situation continues many truck owners would be compelled to withdraw from the business.
They alleged that the registered vendors are not paying them a fair transportation charge which is resulting in huge loss to the transportation business already suffering losses due to the Covid-induced pandemic.
