High drama prevailed near Koodal Nagar Railway station after a section of lorry owners attempted self-immolation protesting against the new contractor appointed by Food Corporation of India who denied them job for transporting wheat and rice, on Monday.
Members of Mahatma Gandhi Goods Shed and Warehouse Lorry Owners and Drivers Association, along with their family members, squatted on the road leading to the platform and prevented trucks engaged by the contractor from unloading wheat from a rake of a goods train.
Their grudge was that the new contractor was not engaging their trucks for transportation. Stating that they had been in the same place for more than 30 years, they said their livelihood was affected by the contractor’s stand. After a marathon discussion with revenue and police officials, the contractor, P. Kumaravelu, agreed to allow trucks of the association members to unload wheat and transport it to the warehouse.
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However, Mr. Kumaravelu said that he himself had engaged some 110 trucks for his work. “I have taken the contract for a huge amount. I can only engage those trucks that charge me less,” he said. He also complained that the association members were seeking exorbitant fare and were also levying demurrage if there was any delay in the process of unloading.
The members of the association, however, complained that Mr. Kumaravelu was also part of their association in the past and was now trying to prevent their business.
When the contractor’s trucks attempted to get into the yard for unloading, the drivers locked themselves inside their office along Koodal Nagar railway station and some of them doused themselves with petrol threatening to immolate themselves.
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However, fellow drivers foiled their attempts.
Meanwhile, loadmen in the yard complained of lack of employment due to the stand-off between the contractor and the truck operators.