The Joint Action Committee (JAC), which comprises the Jaintia Hills Truck Owners Association (JHTOA) and the East Jaintia Hills Truck Owner & Transporter Association (EJHTOTA), through a press release issued by its Chairman and Secretary, Biangshwa Shylla and Kyrshan Dkhar, stated that in an urgent meeting held last evening at Eastside Inn, East Jaintia Hills, the committee thoroughly discussed the difficulties faced by the cement and clinker trucks which have not been able to operate for almost two weeks due to the ongoing strike called by the MCTODA.
The JAC resolved that the trucks under its associations should resume transportation work starting from today itself. It also demanded that the Government of Meghalaya must ensure that there should be no obstruction or disturbance to the movement of these trucks along the NH-6 highway.
The JAC stated that it is not involved in any way with the strike called by the MCTODA. However, it expressed surprise that the cement and clinker trucks belonging to its members have also been stopped along with other vehicles. The suspension of truck operations for more than a week has led to huge financial losses for the truck owners and drivers, who depend solely on this work for their livelihood. Besides daily household expenses, many of them also have monthly vehicle loan installments to repay. With the Christmas and New Year festive season approaching, the continued stoppage of their trucks will bring severe hardship to the families of the truck owners and drivers.
The JAC reminded that before the MCTODA began its strike, the JAC had requested the leaders of MCTODA not to prevent the movement of its trucks. Unfortunately, the MCTODA did not respect this request, which compelled the JAC to take the decision it has now taken. Many trucks belonging to the JAC are still being held up along the NH-6, with heavy loads. If these goods are damaged, stolen, or if any untoward incident takes place, the JAC questioned who will take responsibility. Therefore, the JAC urged the government to clarify this matter.
The JAC Chairman, who is also the President of the JHTOA, said that since the formation of the JHTOA in 1982, the association has continuously worked for the welfare of truck owners in Jaintia Hills, sometimes independently and sometimes in cooperation with other associations and pressure groups across Khasi and Jaintia Hills. In 2020, the JAC (which included the JHTOA, MTU, AJCCTA, AJHTA and others) along with several pressure groups from the Khasi-Jaintia region demanded a uniform rate for the transportation of cement and clinker. The State Government, according to the Notification dated 13th January 2020, fixed the transportation charge at Rs. 9 per metric ton per kilometer. However, due to certain changes, a new Notification dated 25th September 2020 revised the rate to a minimum of Rs. 7 and a maximum of Rs. 11 per metric ton per kilometer. At present, trucks are operating at the minimum rate of Rs. 7 per metric ton per kilometer.
The Secretary of the JAC, Kyrshan Dkhar, who is also the President of the EJHTOTA, added that since the EJHTOTA was formed in 2023, it has continuously worked for the welfare of truck owners and transporters under its association.