Teesta Urja agrees to abide by Transport Minister’s instructions on use of local truckers

GANGTOK, 04 March: A tripartite meeting, convened yesterday between the Sikkim Truck Drivers Association, the Truck Driver Owners’ Association and the hydel developer Teesta Urja [which is working of Teesta Stage III] under the chairmanship of the Chungthang panchayat president, Chedup Lepcha, discussed the month old instructions of the Transport Minister, TT Bhutia, who also happens to be the president of the All Sikkim Drivers’ Front. As per the “instructions”, all hydel project-related carriage works in Sikkim should appoint local truck drivers and hire local trucks.

Both the associations stressed on carrying out transport undertakings as per the instructions of the Minister, informs an STDA press release.
The TDOA was represented by its vice president, Dhan Raj Phileman, general secretary, JB Chettri, joint secretary, Santosh Kr. Agrawal, vice president, North District Brach, Samdup Lepcha and secretary, Sonam Topgay while the STDA had the representation of its president, Mingma Sherpa, North District branch, vice president, Topden Lepcha and former vice president, Lobzang Lepcha.    
The Teesta Urja team comprising of GM, TR Diman, GM, NEC Project, Kranthi G, DB Rao from SEW Project, gave an assurance that the company will by the rules of Sikkim Government more assiduously and that the company’s vehicles will be appointed for the transportation of the materials from Siliguri to carry only such goods which are beyond the carrying capacity of locals trucks.
The meeting was adjourned with a successful agreement from all the parties, the release contends.