Punjab allows transport of foodgrains on tractors

Action follows allegation of cartelisation by truck operators

Glad tidings: Baisakhi on a wheat field outside Chandigarh. The Rabi harvest will begin soon.

The Punjab government’s decision to allow transport of foodgrains and other produce from market yards on tractor-trolleys has not gone down well with the truck operators in the State.

Dismissing the allegation of cartelisation against them, the truck operators say the decision will badly affect their business and will not serve the long-term interest of farmers or transporters.

“Our business is already reeling under the new policy framed by the government. The government has put a cap of 120% on basic rates for transporting wheat this year, which is unreasonable. They [government] assured us recently that our demands will be considered sympathetically next year. But now, this latest move will only add to our losses in the ongoing procurement season,” Happy Sandhu, president of Punjab’s truck union, said.

Mr. Sandhu denied that truck operators were working as a cartel to exploit farmers.

Following Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s approval for the use of tractor-trolleys, the Transport Department is all set to notify the guidelines and procedure for grant of permit-licence to them.

Preventive step

“The decision has been taken to prevent any attempt by transporters to engage in cartelisation in the ongoing Rabi season,” an official spokesperson said.

The department has decided to authorise Regional Transport authorities in the sub-divisions where their offices are located and SDO (Civil)-cum-SDM in the rest of the sub-divisions to grant permit to tractor-trolleys for the limited purpose of carriage of foodgrains, from any Mandi yard-purchase centre to a delivery point not farther than 25 km.

Of this, a maximum of 12 km can be on a State or national highway, which shall be mentioned on the permit.