Transporters write to CM, cite hurdles in refinery deals

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 8

Private transporters have alleged that SAD MLA Jeetmohinder Sidhu was overtaking the refinery transport business. They have written a letter to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and have requested them to save their business.

In the letter, they have stated the Rama Mandi Truck Union and Talwandi Sabo MLA’s representatives have been creating obstacles and problems in the way of the transporters associated with the HPCL Mittal Energy Limited refinery at Phulokhari village.

They alleged that the Bathinda Deputy Commissioner organised an unofficial meeting on December 6 and immediately announced that the Rama Mandi Truck Union would operate in place of the existing transporters to transport the refinery products.

They have also alleged that the Deputy Commissioner, under the influence of the SAD MLA, had taken the decision in favour of the Rama Mandi Truck Union and advised them to operate for the transportation of refinery’s solid products.

“We have observed that during the last four months, Rama Mandi Truck Union leaders, under the influence of SAD MLA Jeetmohinder Sidhu and his close representatives, are regularly interfering in our day-to-day transport activities and hampering livelihood of many people,” they added.

Divulging details, they said more than 100 big and small state transporters have been associated with the refinery for the last two-and-a-half years and have been transporting refinery products namely petcoke and sulphur on regular basis.

The transporters said, “We are providing transportation services to more than 500 customers of the refinery spread across India and also bringing business to the refinery by diverting customers of Reliance Jamangar and Indian Oil, Panipat to the HMEL, Bathinda.”

“In this way, we are not only contributing to increase the HMEL business but also helping the state government by bringing more VAT on monthly basis. We serve HMEL customers and also earn livelihood for our families. More than 340 trucks go out of refinery every day and more than 10,000 families of transporters in the state are dependent on the refinery,” they added.

They have requested the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister to intervene in the matter and advise the SAD MLA, th local administration and the Rama Mandi Truck Union leaders to allow us to operate us smoothly as we have done for the last two-and-a-half years.

They said, “Today, in such a competitive market, we are already going under financial crunch due to heavy credit exposure in the market. Industries are not paying out freights on time due to their huge debts in the market and many a time, we are not able to pay salaries to our staff and EMIs of our trucks. The Deputy Commissioner, along with the truck union leaders, is asking us to leave our business, which we have developed over a period of time with great efforts and sacrifices.”

Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Basant Garg said, “We didn’t organise any meeting on December 6 and no decision on the issue was taken.”

While repeated attempts were made to contact SAD MLA Jeetmohinder Sidhu, he was not available for his comments.

The transporters who have written a letter to the CM and the Deputy CM are Sri Jot Ram Ji Transport, Taramal Transport Company, Sidhu Roadlines, Namdhari Transport Company, New PGR Company, Dasmesh Transport Company, KB Roadlines, Quark Logistics Limited and BBTC Transport.