SHIMLA: The Sukhu-led Congress government, Adani Cement, Himachal’s Truckers Unions have failed to come on a "comment meeting ground" to resolve the month-long Freight Dispute that has created a lot of heartburns among all stakeholders in Himachal Pradesh.
Industries Minister, Harshwardhan Chauhan remained cagey about the outcome of meeting he chaired between the Truckers Union and the Management of the cement company here today.
But the meeting ended in failure to resolve the month long freight dispute, sources said.
Chauhan, however, in an official statement said they sought to create a consensus between both to re-start their operations.
The government has conveyed its displeasure with the company management and its owners, Chauhan added.
"The State Government has suffered huge financial loss, besides the truck operators and others were without work and livelihood for over a month”, he said.
But all talks have failed so far as both Adani Cement and Truckers Union remand adamant on their respective stand on the freight issue.
Adani cement has flagged its timebound actions, demanding decontrol of transportation business from Truckers' unions and the freight to be decided by the free markets.
CEO, Cement Business, Adani Cement has shot off a letter to Chairperson of the Permanent Standing Committee and Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena and Director Industries.
Kapur has sought four timebound measures to resolve the dispute that has literally bled the state’s sources of revenue and income for the thousands of workers and truckers as Adani cement plants remained shut for the last over a month.
But Adani Cement and Truckers Unions have no meeting point on the freight issue so far.
Adani cement says Barmana and Darlaghat cement plants need just 550 trucks. But Truckers want to operate all of its 3311 trucks in these two plants.
Adani cement demands phasing out of the excessive trucks in three years time and a moratorium on deployment of new trucks.
Adani cement demands the company reserve the right to start all operations not the truckers union as is case at present.
Adani cement demands the types and capacity of trucks and deployment routes should be decided by the company, not by the unions.
Free and fair market will be beneficial for all stakeholders that offer long time solution to the freight issue, Kapur claimed.
But Truckers unions remained adamant saying that they have the right to decide the freight charges and operation of trucks as they have given land to the companies to set up the Barmana and Darlaghat cement factors.