Investors’ bargain haul leads to damaged trucks, assault on drivers

A slew of unruly incidents where trucks carrying industrial goods have been ravaged by miscreants has vitiated the peaceful environs of the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial belt.

Advertisement

Industries like Sagar Ispat, Indo Farm Tractors and Prosperity 6 Pharmaceuticals have faced damage to their trucks in the past five to six days following a dispute over hiring of trucks from other states on cheaper rates.

In a bid to resolve the dispute, Baddi SDM Vivek Mahajan held a meeting with the representatives of the Nalagarh Truck Operators Union and representatives of Indo Farm Tractors at Baddi last evening. Company trucks were vandalised on Saturday morning soon after they had left the company premises with goods.

A tent had been pitched outside Indo Farm tractors where vigil was being kept on the movement of trucks leaving the company since the last few days. This was causing hardships in dispatching key consignments and police escort was sought to transport cranes meant for the Indian Army.

In a bid to resolve their dispute, the SDM held talks with all stakeholders last evening and it was amicably decided to remove the tents while agreeing to hold a meeting tomorrow to thrash out the contentious issues.

Investors’ claim

Investors claim local trucks offer much higher freight price than others, leaving them with no option other than hiring trucks.Truckers said their sole source of earning a livelihood was through trucks as they had sold their lands to the industry

A delegation of various industry associations and representatives of Indo Farm Tractors and Sagar Ispat, Prosperity 6 Pharmaceuticals etc., met the Chief Minister and the Industry Minister at Shimla today.

They apprised them about the grave situation in the BBN area where trucks from various industries have been damaged by miscreants in the last few days following a transportation dispute. They also apprised them about the assault on truck drivers.

Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu assured the investors that nobody would be allowed to disturb the peaceful environs of the area.

Rajiv Aggarwal, President BBN Industries Association, informed that the culprits will not be spared and that law and order will be maintained at all costs.

Quick Reaction Team formed

Baddi Police has stepped up its patrolling and vigil.Additional force and a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) has been deputed round the clock. Police is ensuring smooth plying of goods-laden trucks

Though the high court has directed the administration to ensure that the industry could hire trucks from anywhere, the past week has seen obstruction of smooth transportation work much to the chagrin of the investors.