Assam Sand Suppliers and Truck Owners Association Dimapur (ASSTOAD) Wednesday announced imposition of “total ban” on sand supply with effect from September 30 evening.
Announcing the ban at a press conference held at Saramati hotel, here Wednesday, ASSTOAD president, Anito Shohe, said that the decision to impose ban was based on the issue of price hike of sand supply and illegal transportation of sand within the state. Shohe said that the ban would continue till the matter was resolved amicably. The association has approached the district administration, police and forest department to extend cooperation, he said.
ASSTOAD finance secretary Deon Swu informed that the association’s “main concept” was to have a joint meeting with the mahaldars association in Assam so as to take into account the concerns of both suppliers and buyers in the state.
He said that the association spearheading the negotiations for the price hike of sand would have a joint meeting with the main parties in Assam until then the association would impose ban on the sand supply.
He, however, said that the date of meeting has not been confirmed yet.
The association alleged that syndicate system and monopoly by certain individuals have led to hampering of sand supply. Therefore, the association has appealed to general public to bear with the inconvenience until the matter was resolved amicably.
To enforce the ban, the association said volunteers would be deployed at the inter-state check gates (Dillai and New Field Check gate).
Meanwhile, ASSTOAD has also extended support to the “indefinite economic blockade” called by five truck associations and appealed to the administration to speed up the investigation and bring the perpetrator(s) to book at the earliest.
Further, the association has informed all its bona fide members to get themselves register on or before October 15, 2020.