Lorry owners to petition CM on quality of sand

According to the members of the associations, the government should directly undertake the process of loading construction materials. Also, alleging that the government failed to appoint PWD officials to inspect the quality of the materials as assured earlier, they sought appropriate steps to stop construction of high rise buildings that are as high as 50 floors using M-sand. 

S Yuvaraj, president of Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners’ Federation, said that they would meet the chief minister soon to submit petitions regarding this. “If our demands are not met, we will go on strike af ter a month,” he said. Yuvaraj also demanded that the  government appoint an official to inspect the quality of the sand. “The government has permitted the construction of 40 and 50-floor buildings using M-sand. However, it will be detrimental if a big building is constructed without inspecting sand quality,” he said. Meanwhile, M-sand owners’ association has also planned to submit petitions to the chief minister. When contacted, a senior

PWD official (Sand Mining) denied allegations levelled by the owners of sand lorries. “We have instructed the concerned engineers in all the regions to keep an eye on those resorting to this practice,” warned the official. ‘Indefinite strike from June 18’ Meanwhile, speaking to the media, Tamil Nadu Lorry Owner’s Federation President R Sugumar said the All India Confederation of Goods Vehicles Owners’ Associations (AICOGVO) would go on an indefinite hunger strike from June 18 demanding the withdrawal of the daily price fixation of petrol and diesel, reduce toll charges and roll back of the hike in third party insurance premium for heavy vehicles. There were about  13 lakh goods vehicles, including 4.5 lakh lorries, in Tamil Nadu, Sugumar claimed as many as 5 lakh truck owners would participate in the indefinite stir. The strike would lead to a loss of an estimated Rs 5 crore a day, he added.