The Lorry Owners Association Consultative Meeting was held in Coimbatore.
Coimbatore: A consultative meeting of the Lorry Owners Association was held at a wedding hall near the Brook Field Mall premises in Coimbatore. Members of the State Lorry Owners Federation of Tamil Nadu were also present during the meeting.
The meeting was attended by the Coimbatore Lorry Owners Association Secretary Venkatesh, State Lorry Owners Federation President Guruswamy, Secretary Vangili and truck owners from western districts. Post the consultative meeting, the Coimbatore Lorry Owners Association Head, Murugesan briefed the media.
'We have placed certain demands with the State Government. The wages (upload and download wages for goods) shall be paid by the owners of the goods themselves. The DMK during the election manifesto stated that the diesel prices shall be reduced by Rs.4 per litre for which a petition had been submitted to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M K Stalin, in person to reduce the prices,' stated Murugesan.
He further said that the reflective strips put on the vehicles, as per the Government of India’s approval can be purchased from 11 companies, but authorities insist on buying them only from two companies. 'This will lead to corruption and misuse,' reiterated Murugesan and requested the State Transport Minister to intervene in the matter. 'It is the Centre that can impose GST on fuel like it did with all other items, but the State and Central Governments are playing hide and seek when it comes to deciding on reduction of fuel prices. A reduction in the diesel price is the solution for a better economy,' emphasized Murugesan.
He then stated that they have been in talks with the Government on issues arising between the police and lorry drivers. 'The total number of check posts in Tamil Nadu is 48, while the actual number should only be 16. The check posts that function violating the norms should be penalized immediately and requests have been made to stop police officials from booking cases online,' reiterated Murugesan.