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Dimapur, October 31 (MExN): The Office of Nagaland-based Sand Stockiest & Suppliers has written to the President & Colleagues of Sand Mahalder Welfare Society (Bokulia) & Sand Mahalder and Supplier Association (Manja), Assam, highlighting various issues and grievances faced by the sand stockiest and suppliers of Nagaland State for necessary corrective measures.
In the release, the Presidents of the Sand Stockiest & Suppliers Union, Dimapur and Chümoukedima and the President of Assam Sand Supply & Truck Owner Association Nagaland stated that the recent hike in the price of sand has impaired the business of the Stockiest & Suppliers because in addition to the hiked price “we are forced to pay various charges to different Union and authorities before disposing the goods at Dimapur, Nagaland.”
“When the truck was allowed to ferry 600 cft the royalty was at Rs 7000, however when the truck was restricted to 400 cft the royalty charges shot up to Rs 13,000 which is unjustifiable and become a burden to the stockiest and suppliers of Nagaland,” the release stated.
It also questioned the new system under which “only 3 TP is issued per day per mohal after the truck is restricted to ferry only 400 cft,” stating that it is hampering the business of the stockiest and suppliers.
Further, the release stated that the Sand Mahalder Welfare Society (Bokulia) & Sand Mahalder and Supplier Association (Manja), Assam have been inspecting the amount sand carried by the trucks and are reportedly seizing the sand on the allegation of carrying more than 400 cft, causing chaos and fear in the minds of the concerned people.
It also expressed shock to note that ‘illegal tax’ of Rs 1000 per truck is being collected, thereby causing further losses, while also stating that the stoppage of trucks ferrying sand between 5:00 pm to 5:00 am “is illegal and causing further difficulty in the administration of trade between two parties concerned.”
As such, it requested the Assam counterparts to re-consider the revised rate and take further necessary steps to address all grievances within 5 days in the interest of both the parties and for better coordination.
“If our appeal is not taken into consideration we shall have no other option but to take our own democratic recourse in the interest of Naga populace by way of calling total sand band within the state of Nagaland,” it added.
