Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD/GA)
Udupi, Aug 1: District-in-charge minister Dr V S Acharya has ordered the district administration to allow the 1,250 stranded ore-laden trucks to move to Mangalore and unload ore. He has further said that the decision has been taken on humanitarian grounds in order to reduce the plight of the stranded drivers.
However the conditions are being imposed that this arrangement would only be applicable to the trucks stranded at Otthinene. The traffic of ore-laden trucks would resume only when the weigh-bridge restored to function.
This decision was taken after Karnataka State Truck Owners Association president Shanmugappa and other office-bearers held discussions with CM and district in-charge minister.
Meanwhile deputy commissioner V Ponnuraj said that the damaged weigh-bridge is expected to be repaired by August 4 and as per the agreement between the truck owners and the administration, the ore-laden trucks will not run through Otthinene till August 15.
Difference of opinion on the number of trucks: There are differences of opinion between deputy commissioner and truck Owners association president, Shanmugappa, on the number of trucks that are stranded at Otthinene. The administration said that there were 350 trucks stranded in the area. However, truck owners' association said that there were 1,250 truck held up at Otthinene.
However, for the time being, all those trucks stranded at Otthinene will be allowed to move to Mangalore. Moreover, the administration has asked the association president to give in writing that they would not arrive with new loads till the weigh-bridge is repaired and kept ready for operation.
Earlier News: