The Tractor Owners’ Association, Balangir on Tuesday demanded that quarries be leased out soon so that their tractors would be engaged to transport minor minerals.
Addressing mediapersons here, association president Pradeep Mahanty said every year the district administration leases out quarries from which minor minerals are transported by tractors. But as the poll code of conduct was in force for the general elections, the district administration could not invite new tender for lease of quarries, he said.Informing that the district administration is imposing penalty up to `25,000, Mohanty lamented that tractor owners and other people dependent on this sector have suffered a lot. Mohanty said district Collector M Muthukumar has assured them to resolve the issue in three days time.