BELLARY: The Bellary District Transport Operators' Association has urged Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to direct Bellary district administration to withdraw the ban imposed on movement of mine lorries between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.

In a memorandum to Chief Minister, association president K. Venkatarao said that the ban had severely affected the people dependent on the sector. Each ore-carrying lorry costs around Rs. 17 lakh.

Around 2,500 tippers and 2,000 trucks were used for the purpose in the district. The capital investment in the ore transporting sector of around Rs. 765 crore was kept idle for nearly 15 hours in a day.

Traffic congestion

Following boom in the iron ore market, the movement of mine lorries increased manifold. Heavy movement of these lorries led to increase in accidents, traffic jams, noise and air pollution and the like, affecting the health of the people severely. In the absence of a bypass to the city and several pleas from the public, the Deputy Commissioner, as per the recommendations of the Superintendent of Police, ordered restriction on movement of mine lorries in the city limits.

Mr. Venkatarao said that over 10,000 skilled workers and a large number of unskilled labourers dependent on the transport sector were directly affected. The drop in the sale of diesel in the district was to the tune of Rs. 20 crore a month, he claimed.

Mr. Venkatarao criticised the authorities for not taking steps to lay a bypass to overcome the problems and urged the Chief Minister to intervene in the matter.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail