Owing to the deadlock between the Punjab government and truck unions over the cap imposed on wheat transportation rates, nearly 75,000 truck operators have decided to remain off roads citing the less charges for wheat lifting. The development is significant as it may lead to a tough time for the state procurement agencies contemplating for effective wheat procurement and its lifting to other states.

On the other hand, the state government authorities are busy in finding alternative ways to avoid any problem related to wheat transportation. They have now allowed rice millers to participate in the tendering process for transportation of wheat from grain markets to storage godowns.

“We will have to ensure the proper wheat transportation without any hurdle. At this moment, it is not possible to increase the cap of rates for wheat transportation as it is decided by the Central agency. We are asking tractor trolleys to come forward and they have agreed upon to work with us on existing rates,” Principal Secretary, Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, KAP Sinha, told The Statesman.

As per the available information, there are nearly 95,000 truck operators who are associated with 134 truck unions out of which only a few have been agreed to participate in wheat transportation. The truck operators have justified the rate of at least Rs 2,250 per trip in comparison to Rs 540 for the same trip charged from others.

The operators say during wheat or paddy procurement, the truck remains idle for long, as it has to wait for unloading in a long queue outside the godowns. About 110 of the 395 tenders for transportation have been finalised by the state government.

“There are nearly 75,000 truckers in the state which will boycott the wheat lifting. We have offered a reduced rate of Rs 2,250 per trip (9 tonnes for 9 km) but the government’s stand is unclear. We are demanding these rates as the diesel prices and toll taxes have been increased,” said Punjab truck unions chief, Happy Sandhu.

During last week, the talks between representatives of truck unions and officials of the food and civil supplies department could not make any headway even as rice millers came forward to join the tendering process in several areas of the state.

In a recent bidding process, they submitted bids in 15 of the 58 clusters in Sunam, Dirba and Sangrur, which are known stronghold of truck unions. In 2017, the Punjab Cabinet had approved the Punjab Goods Carriages (Regulation and Prevention of Cartelisation Rules), 2017, to fix the minimum and maximum fares and freights for goods carriers.