Some 300 truckers are refusing to transport cement from Dungsam Cement Corporation plant in Nganglam to the hydropower project sites following a cut in the transportation charge.
The transportation charge has been slashed by Nu 50 per ton beginning last Saturday. Since then, the trucks have been seen lying idle in a protest to the cut.
The dungsam cement corporation decided the rate, which was agreed upon by the 10 transporters in Nganglam. The transportation charge is revised every year as a cost cutting measure.
Truckers say that even the previous rate of Nu 2,500 per ton was less. The recent cut has left them fuming. Pema Tshering said it takes them about a week sometimes to get a load. “After all the expenditure, we have just about Nu 7000 with us. It is less then Nu 1000 per day.”
Another trucker, Samten Wangchuk, said it is unfair to make the truckers bear the loss. “They make an agreement and always try to reduce the rate every year and make us bear the loss. They should at least call a meeting with us before coming up with a decision.”
Truckers threatened that they will go back to work only if the previous rate is reinstated. Otherwise, they said they will look for a job elsewhere.
“We have to pay loans, which we took to buy our trucks. Also, with the rising cost of fuel, it is a loss for us,” said Tshering Wangdi.
The transporters tried to bear 50 perecnt of the loss, but that failed to move the truckers. Langa from Choki Wangmo Transport said the transporters are also helpless. “We have borrowed millions and have to pay our staff and house rent. We can’t pay the truckers more because we aren’t earning much. I am planning to meet the corporation officials once again to negotiate.”
But the managing director of Dungsam Cement Corporation, Dorji Norbu said they cannot consider any changes in the revised rates.
