Shillong, Oct 31: In the midst of the indefinite strike launched on October 27 by a group of truck owners and drivers under the banner of the Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Drivers Association (MCTODA) over pay, a meeting was held today to try and resolve the issue, though to no avail.
MCTODA wants its members to be paid according to government-prescribed rates. However, the cement companies claim that these are too high and are unaffordable. MCTODA then decided to obstruct the passage of trucks carrying cement and clinker at Soomer Mihmyntdu Bypass to force their demand through.
Today, the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills, Shivansh Awasthi, held a meeting with MCTODA and cement company representatives over its demands.
After the failure of the talks the truckers departed the protest site at Mihmyntdu but are not preparing to move their agitation to Khliehtyrshi.
The MCTODA leaders alleged that there is an understanding between the cement companies and the state not to pay the truckers as per the prescribed government rate.
They threatened that if they are not allowed to protest, they will march to the Secretariat in Shillong.
