Orissa Mineral Traders Association (OMTA), a trade body representing 500 plus mineral transporters and dealers, has urged the state government to re-allow them to transport the minerals, which has been stopped since 2009.
In 2009, the state government had cancelled all transit passes and decided to issue hologram-sealed passes to bring in transparency in the mineral transport trade.
However, the mineral traders allege that in the new system, the state government has not given any permit or transit passes to them and instead, issued them to the mine owners.
“Prior to 2009, the minerals were transported by the traders and it was supervised at two points till it reached the final destination. But with mine owners now directly supplying the minerals, there is higher chances of violating the laws since it is not tracked,” said the OMTA offcials.
The association was earlier handling transport of about a million tone iron ore a month. But since past two years, the transport volume has almost come to zero, said Prana Krushna Nayak, president, OMTA.
“We are suffering losses because of our prior commitments to steel makers and exporters. We have been given licence to trade but it is of no use if you do not have transport permit”, he added.
He said, while other mineral rich states such as Karnataka and Goa have not denied permits to mineral traders, there is no reason that Orissa government should do so. This act of the government indicates nexus between the mine owners and government officials, he said.
OMTA chief pointed out that by giving the mine owners the permit to transport the minerals, the government is losing huge amount of taxes as the transport of minerals by the mine owners attracts no taxes.
“We appeal the government to allow us to transport the minerals, otherwise 10,000 direct employees and similar number of indirect employees engaged in the trade would suffer,” said Nayak.
