Clarifies on sand price hike, refute SMWS’ claims
Dimapur, November 8 (MExN): The Sand Stockist & Suppliers’ Union (SSSU) of Dimapur and Chümoukedima along with the Assam Sand Supply & Truck Owner Association, Nagaland (ASSTOAN) have unanimously resolved to impose indefinite ban on all sand supplies within the state of Nagaland from November 10, 5:00 am onwards.
The ban is imposed in response to “unfounded allegations” leveled by the Sand Mahaldar Welfare Society (SMWS), Karbi Anglong instead of resolving the issues for redressal put forth earlier, the three organisations stated in a joint press release.
If any suppliers, stockist or individual is found violating the resolution, goods would be ceased and appropriate actions would be enforced, stated the release issued by SSSUD President Viniho Shohe, SSSUC President Khriesavilie Yhoshu, and ASSTOAN President Anito N Shohe.
The organisations further appealed to the Government of Nagaland and general public to intervene and give full cooperation and resolve, for the benefits of Naga consumers, what they termed as the custom of the “SMWS holding the Nagas at ransom and fixing the rate of the sand at their own whims.”
The release, issued as a counter rejoinder to SMWS’ release on November 6, also clarified that when a “truck was allowed to ferry 600 cft (cubic feet) per trip, the royalty was Rs 7000 per trip or around Rs 12 per cft.”
“If at all the concerned authorities has ordered to carry only 400 cft per trip, the amount of royalty should be Rs 4800,” it pointed, while questioning the logic of the hiking royalty amount to Rs13,000 per trip.
Accordingly, the price of the sand shot up to Rs 60 t0 65 per cft from Rs 32 to 42 per cft (Dimapur price), which needs to be resolved, it said.
“The unreasonable hike in the price is burdening the general public who is paying the brunt of this illegal hike in the price,” it added.
The three organisations also refuted SMWS’ contention that the former is collecting Rs 5000 per truck against the “lorry challan of underground parties” as “unfounded and fictitious.”
At no point of time collected such amount against any truck, the release asserted, further demanding the SMWS to provide proof of evidence if “any members have collected such money” so that action can be initiated against such erring members.
If not, the SMWS is asked not to make such wild allegation that tarnish the image, the three organisations stated in the release, while reminding that the Nagaland Government has “closed down all the toll/check gate” and such allegation was beyond comprehension.
Accordingly, with the closing down of all toll/check gates, all forms of taxations have been banned and the rate of the sand is supposed to come down, it noted.
However, the rate has shot up high exorbitantly which portrays the bad intention of the SMWS or the authorities concerned, asserted the SSSU Dimapur& Chümoukedima and ASSTOAN, in the release.
Instead, it alleged that truck is “hijacked/stopped by the SMWS members even before reaching the designated Mohal and charged/ extorted Rs13,000 per truck and all the Nagas truck are directed towards the Mohal of bad quality sand” and not given the liberty to choose our “own Mohal.”
“If halting of truck carrying sand between 5:00 PM to 5:00 AM at National Highway is done in accordance with the Order/Notification of the Karbi Autonomous Council, then the Order need to be made public for posterity,” it asserted.
If not, such unwanted harassments need to be stopped immediately as by the time the truck reaches Nagaland gate, the time for ‘No Entry’ for heavy vehicle is imposed, hampering the business activities, it added.
Accordingly, the three organisations further accused the SMWS of “unfounded allegations” against them instead of resolving the issue put forth for redressal in their previous release and resolved to impose the ban.
