Total ban of sand import if grievances not addressed, Nagaland suppliers to Assamese counterparts

Dimapur, Oct. 31 (EMN): Nagaland sand suppliers have written to their Assamese counterparts, highlighting the recent hike in the price of sand and other issues, stating that they would be forced to call for a total ban in import of sand to Nagaland if their grievances are not addressed.

In a letter to the Sand Mahalder Welfare Society (Bokulia) and Sand Mahalder and Supplier Association (Manja), Assam, the Sand Stockist and Suppliers of Nagaland stated that the recent hike in price of sand has impaired their business as they have to pay taxes to various groups before bringing goods to Dimapur.

It claimed that the royalty charge for ferrying 600 cft. was INR 7000 but it has shot up to INR 13,000 after the load was restricted to 400 cft. It added that issuance of only 3 TP per day per mohal after restricting the load to 400 cft. is hampering the business of sand suppliers in Nagaland.

It also claimed that trucks are seized on allegation of carrying more than 400 cft. of sand; illegal tax of INR 1000 per truck collected; and vehicles carrying sand are stopped after 5 pm and opened only after 5 am, which it said, is illegal.   

The letter signed by the presidents of Sand Stockist and Suppliers Union, Dimapur; Sand Stockist and Suppliers Union, Chumoukedima; and Assam Sand Supply and Truck Owner Association, Nagaland requested their Assamese counterpart to revise the sand rate and address other issues within five days in the interest of both the parties.

Failing which, they said would take their own democratic recourse in the interest of the Nagaland people by calling a total ban on import of sand to the state.