Truckers call off strike after assurance from Karnataka govt
Bengaluru, Apr 17 (PTI): Truckers associated with the Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Associations (FOKSLOAA) on Thursday called off their strike after state Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy agreed to most of their demands.
The FOKSLOAA, with 129 truckers’ associations and six lakh members, commenced their protest on Monday night with a host of demands, including a reduction in diesel prices and toll-related problems faced by the truckers.
Transport Minister Reddy confirmed that the strike has been called off.
"I have told them that I would look into most of their demands, including the one related to check posts at the border areas," Reddy told PTI.
He said he has assured the FOKSLOAA delegation that a committee would be formed which will decide within three to four months about the role and responsibility of the check posts.
About the no-entry inside the Bengaluru city, the minister said he will speak to the Bengaluru Police Commissioner.
"I have told the truck drivers to complete their work between 7 AM and 8 AM," Reddy said.
He said he also agreed for the online fine payment for the truckers.
The minister said he has also assured them to set up more centres to renew their driving licence.
"Their demand for diesel price reduction and abolition of toll plaza was unrelated to us. I told them to first speak to the Centre before coming to us," Reddy said.
FOKSLOAA general secretary Somasundaram Balan said the strike has been called off. Except for diesel price reduction and toll related issues, all the demands have been fulfilled, he added.
According to Balan, the minister assured them that tariff charges of trucks will be given to the truckers within a month. A committee would be formed which will fix the rates.
Regarding the toll charges, the FOKSLOAA general secretary said the minister assured the delegation that it will be borne by the consigner or consignee and not the truckers.
FOKSLOAA president G R Shanmugappa told reporters after meeting with the minister that his federation had put forth five issues before the Karnataka government, which were genuine.
"We have raised the issue of border check posts of the Road Transport Office (RTO). These check posts have been removed in most of the states. So why is it still operating in Karnataka? Why is money collected there and why is RTO creating problem there? The minister assured us that within three months the state would take a call on scrapping them after studying the abolition of check posts in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh," Shanmugappa said.
Regarding the diesel price, Shanmugappa said there were fixed transportation charges for the autorickshaws, hail riding taxis and buses, but no such mechanism existed for trucks for the past 25 years. "The minister has said within a month the rent will be fixed, which is a matter of joy for us," he added.
The representatives of the truckers’ body had twice held discussions with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Reddy on Tuesday, which remained inconclusive.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
