Several tipper owners in the Joda mining area have been sitting on a dharna near the Banspani toll gate since Monday protesting against the discrimination of the Mining Truck Owners’ Association (MATOA) for not giving permission to transport iron ore from mines in Joda.
The topper owners alleged that from April nearly 200 out of the 3,000 tippers were not given permission to transport iron ore from the Sirajuddin and Indrani Patnaik mines, which are in operation out of total mines in Joda. Due to this discrimination by the MATOA, the tipper owners are not able to repay their bank loans and their families are living in miserable conditions, rued an owner. “We have complained about this to the district administration but in vein,” he added.
On contacting, association president Ranjit Barik said that due to shortage of materials, some trucks have been denied permission, adding that all the trucks would be given permission when the mines would operate in full swing.