PARADIP: The fertiliser major, IFFCO, has closed down its three DAP plants here on Saturday as it was unable to either dispatch the final product or receive raw materials due to the ongoing road blockade by the Truck Owners’ Association. The company has been incurring a loss of more than Rs 1 crore a day for the last four days. IFFCO Executive Director MR Patel said that as the talks between IFFCO and Truck Owners’ Association over fixing of transportation prices of fertilisers failed on three occasions, it was decided to shut down the units to prevent further losses.The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), an organisation of three Truck Owners’ Associations, has been demanding more than double the existing transportation rates, he added. Kalinga Cooperative Society, Paradip, has been transporting fertilisers of IFFCO for over 10 years and providing livelihood to nearly 500 people.However, JCC demanded handing over cargo transportation to truck operators affiliated to Paradip Truck Owners’ Association and 50 per cent share in transportation charge from the bidders. Patel clarified that IFFCO has not agreed to the JCC demands because that would lead to a hike in fertiliser prices, severely affecting farmers.“We are compelled to stop operation of Paradip plant as around 45,000 MTs of DAP have piled up because we are unable to dispatch. Raw materials essential to run the unit are also not reaching due to road blockade by the truckers association,” he added. The strike will affect 1,350 employees and 3,000 contract workers.
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