Leaders of the Tipper Lorry, Earth Moving Equipment Owners and Operators Welfare Association have complained that enforcement squads of different departments are hindering their work.
At a news conference they alleged that squads functioning under the control of Revenue, Police and Motor Vehicles departments were imposing more restrictions, making it difficult for them to carry out their business.
Association leaders M.K. Prabhakaran and N. Biju said those who had ventured into the goods transportation business with bank loans were not even getting four hours’ work a day because of the regulations.
“Though tipper trucks are keeping off the road during ban hours, we are not able to operate without trouble in the remaining hours because of frequent inspections,” they complained.
Association leaders said drivers took up the goods transportation business as a self-employment option and lacked other job opportunities to survive. “The construction sector in the district is mainly depending on the service of this unorganised sector, but no department is ready to acknowledge it,” they said.
The leaders said they would raise the issue before the public during their district convention at Kannadikkal on February 26. M.K. Raghavan, MP, will inaugurate the convention which will draw the participation of small-scale and large-scale entrepreneurs in the sector, they added.
