In a significant development for regional trade, the movement of goods trucks from Assam's Barak Valley to Meghalaya resumed on Saturday, ending a weeklong strike that had paralyzed cement transportation between the two states. The resolution brings much-needed relief to both transporters and cement companies who had been locked in a bitter dispute over freight rates.
Strike Called Over Slashed Transportation Rates
The impasse began when several cement companies operating in Meghalaya reportedly reduced transportation rates, pushing truck owners into significant financial distress. The Katigorah Truck Owners' Association, supported by the Barak Valley Truck Owners' Coordination Committee, responded by calling for a complete boycott of cement and other goods transportation to Meghalaya.
Many truck operators revealed they were struggling to pay their monthly EMIs due to the reduced freight rates, claiming the cuts made their operations financially unviable. The protest effectively halted all supplies to Meghalaya-based cement companies, creating a supply chain crisis in the region.
Breakthrough Meeting Resolves Deadlock
The deadlock was broken on Friday following a crucial bilateral meeting between representatives of cement companies and officials of the Katigorah Truck Owners' Association at Kalain in Cachar district. The meeting saw participation from senior officials of various cement companies who assured truckers that their concerns would be addressed promptly.
Pradeep Purohit, vice-chairman of one of the cement companies, acknowledged the losses suffered by truck owners and confirmed that companies had already decided to increase transportation rates. He described the conflict as "a small misunderstanding within a family," emphasizing the interdependent relationship between cement companies and truck owners in the region.
Key Agreements Reached
During the meeting, several important commitments were made to ensure long-term stability in the transportation sector:
- Cement companies agreed to increase transportation rates to sustainable levels
- Barak Valley trucks would be given preference in future transportation assignments
- Companies would not use their own fleet unless there was an acute shortage of local trucks
- Both sides agreed to hold another meeting soon to determine minimum freight rates
The truckers, represented by association leaders Maulana Enam Ullah and Jabir Hossain Laskar, presented a five-point charter of demands to cement company officials. Ullah described the meeting as "cordial and fruitful" and confirmed that the boycott had been withdrawn with immediate effect.
Smooth Resumption of Operations
With the strike officially lifted, truck movement to Meghalaya resumed smoothly on Saturday morning. Hundreds of trucks from Katigorah and other parts of the Barak Valley that have long been engaged in transporting cement to Meghalaya-based companies returned to the roads, restoring normalcy to the supply chain.
Purohit emphasized the companies' commitment to working in the best interests of the people of both Barak Valley and Meghalaya, highlighting the regional economic importance of maintaining smooth transportation links between Assam and Meghalaya.
The resolution not only brings immediate relief to the transportation and cement industries but also sets the stage for more stable freight rate negotiations in the future, potentially preventing similar disputes from disrupting regional trade.
