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Adani Group-trucker’s deadlock in Himachal: Fresh round of talks to be held on Jan 12
The sudden closure of the ACC Cement Plant in Barmana and Ambuja Cement Plant at Darlaghat on December 14 – which had both been acquired by the Adani Group in September – had rendered hundreds of people unemployed. A government subcommittee will hold talks with both parties on January 12.
Two months after the Adani Group abruptly shut down two cement plants in the hill state after steep freight charges allegedly made operations unviable, the subcommittee comprised by state government on Tuesday invited representatives of the company and truckers’ union to resolve their standoff on January 12.
The sudden closure of the ACC Cement Plant in Barmana and Ambuja Cement Plant at Darlaghat on December 14 – which had both been acquired by the Adani Group in September – had rendered hundreds of people unemployed. A government subcommittee will hold talks with both parties on January 12.
The group, which is owned by billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani, while expressing regret over the closure of the plants, had said the truckers’ union had necessitated the move. At present, the cost of transporting a quintal of cement is ₹10.58 per kilometre in the hills and ₹5.38 in the plains.
Several rounds of negotiations
After the announcement, the Himachal Pradesh government had issued a show-cause notice to the Adani Group over not informing the government before closing down the plant. The truckers’ union and company representatives have held several rounds of discussions since, but to no avail. Initially, the company had offered ₹6 per kilometre for the transportation of cement in the hills.
The government had constituted a subcommittee comprising the directors of industries, transport and food and civil supplies to work out new freight rates, which would be amicably accepted by both the Adani Group as well as the truckers. The subcommittee had roped in Himachal Consultancy Organisation (HIMCON) to work out new freight rates for truck unions.
The subcommittee had asked the consultancy to rework fresh freight rates after the government increased VAT on diesel and petrol by ₹3. After the revision, the VAT on diesel which was ₹4.4/litre has gone up to ₹ 7.4/litre in the hill state, taking the diesel price from ₹ 83/litre to ₹ 86/litre. HIMCONS has submitted its report.
