Cement dealers decry freight increase by truck operators
Srinagar: The alleged arbitrary increase in fares by transport union based in Khanmoh area where most of the cement manufacturing plants are located have put cement dealers in a spot, forcing them to raise cement prices on a daily basis.
Members of Kashmir Retailer-cum-Dealers Association said that the freight charges by transport union in Khanmoh area are increasing day by day.
They said that the officials of the Union flout rules and regulations regarding the increase in fares and charge as per their whims and discretion.
“The limit is that this increase in the fare is done several times in a year and as a result, cement retailers and dealers face many problems,” they said.
They said that for 8-10 kilometer distance, they charge Rs 7000 while for North Kashmir districts they charge Rs 10000 which is almost same as charged by the truckers coming from Jammu.
In the midst of daily increase in the freight, they said, “we are forced to increase the price of cement with each passing day and as a result the common man has to pay extra for purchase of cement.”
The Association members said that the government was not taking any notice of the arbitrary increase in freight by the transport union based in Khanmoh, which has encouraged them.
“They are manipulating fares in a manner as they choose while the concerned government officials have turned a blind eye and resultantly the common man is made to face the brunt,” the members Kashmir Retailer-cum-Dealers Association said, adding, “Authorities including the Consumer Affairs Department are not taking any notice of the situation, nor is anyone seems to be concerned about it.”
The members of Association have appealed administration especially Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Transport Commissioner Kashmir, RTO Kashmir and Commissioner of Consumer Affairs to take serious note of this situation.
