An indefinite strike by transporters, associated with cement transportation business, in Chhattisgarh is threatening the livelihood of thousands of people working in these manufacturing units.
The cement manufacturers are suffering a loss of crores of rupees everyday.
The manufacturers are blaming the state government for the impasse.
According to a section of the manufacturers, the state government first pressurised them by ordering closure of some units in the garb of pollution and later allowed those to restart the manufacturing allegedly after "settlement".
"Now, the state government is putting pressure on us through various quartets to take the services of select 5-6 transporters after increasing their rates by around 25%. This is simply extortion,. Where and to whom is this money going?" asked an agitated manufacturer.
This has forced the small transporters to go on an indefinite strike and as a result all the manufacturing units are shut.
Around 5000 trucks are presently off roads, thus creating an artificial shortage in the market and providing an opportunity to the black marketers to sell cement on exorbitant prices.
Above all, the jobs of around 50,000 workers are at stake.
The closure has also impacted the rate of production and in turn hit the revenue collection. According to some estimates, the state government is losing a revenue of Rs 3 crore everyday.
The shortage has hit not only the big ongoing projects but also private constructions given that the cement is being sold in the black market at unreasonably high prices.
The locals have also blamed the state government for an absence of a proper monitoring mechanism or any roadmap to resolve the crisis.
With transporters having threatened that they would keep their vehicles off roads till the cement manufacturing companies do not concede to their demands, the situation appears grim.
They have argued that the massive increase in diesel prices that have surpassed over Rs 100 a litre has worsened their condition and hence were forced to go on an indefinite strike.
The onus is now on the state government to address the demands of the transporters while keeping in mind the already stressed cement manufacturers.