Unhappy with the transportation rates, 37 local truckers ferrying dolomite from Pugli in Samtse have stopped transporting the minerals today. They claimed the recently revised rate by their employing agency, State Mining Corporation Limited (SMCL), is not enough to offset the fuel price hike. The truckers ferry the mineral to the stockyard within Pugli.
Frustrated with the increasing fuel price and low transportation charges, all private truckers of Chunnaikhola Dolomite Mines in Pugli have stopped their work today. According to the local truck drivers and owners, the current transportation rate of about Nu 23.9 per metric tonne of the mine is not enough for fuel, maintenance costs and loan repayment. They earn about Nu 480 a trip to the stockyard at La-mokhola, which is more than a kilometre from the mines.
“We bought trucks on loans thinking that it will be a good business here. But with the increasing fuel price and SMCL not revising the transportation rates, it is difficult. We have been working here when the price of fuel was just 50 ngultrum,” said Tshering Lepcha, a trucker in Pugli, Samtse.
“Despite running in loss, we were transporting the mineral when the price of fuel was Nu 80 per litre. But now with the price of fuel crossing hundred ngultrums, we are finding it very difficult to work here for SMCL,” added Surja Bdr Galley, also a trucker in Pugli.
Today, a litre of diesel costs about Nu 106.6 in Pugli.
The truckers wrote to the SMCL office in March requesting the office to revise the transportation rate. Accordingly, the SMCL revised the rates by 8 to 10 per cent. However, the truckers were not happy with the revision. The truckers’ group again wrote to the office requesting a revision. The group proposed increasing the transportation rates to Nu 30 or 31 per metric tonne given the recent rise in fuel price.
The SMCL, however, said they have no plans to revise the transportation charges for now. Until the truckers resume their work, the office said they have enough stock of dolomite and also have 25 additional trucks of their own.
The office also wrote to the Phuntshopelri Gewog Administration today to advise the local transporters to either resume the work immediately or submit a letter expressing their interest to withdraw from working with the SMCL. The office claims that the transportation rate was revised twice within the last three months due to the increase in the fuel price as per the formula prepared and approved by the board.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Sonam
