Srinagar, Sep 9: Even as the state government has fixed the brick rates, absence of approved truck freight rate has left customers high and dry.
 The customers allege that even though the bricks are being sold at government approved rates, “the kiln owners and sometimes the truck drivers charge hefty amounts in the name of freight which puts a lot of burden on us.”The customers alleged that in absence of any approved freight rates by the government the kiln and truck owners are taking undue advantage of the situation.
 “There are no fixed freight rates. It is being charged variously as per the sweet will of the truck or kiln owners,” they said.
 “I was asked to pay Rs 3000 from Budgam to Karan Nagar, while my friend paid Rs 4000 for the same distance,” I an Bhat, a local resident said.
 Earlier, the divisional administration while fixing the rates of bricks had asked the transport department to fix freight rates as well so that customers are not charged arbitrarily.
 Sources said even as the transport department has time and again been requested to issue freight rate list, “so far the department has not issued any freight list.”
 Interestingly, the brick kiln owners too state that absence of freight rate list is causing lot of inconvenience to them. “Everyday we have heated arguments with our customers regarding the freight charges. We appeal state government to issue the freight rate list, so that our problems is solved,” Ashiq Ahmad, a kiln owner said.
 “We fail to understand why it should take so much time to the transport department to come up with a freight rate list,” he added.
 Curiously, former DDC Budgam had sent a letter to Transport Commissioner for fixing the freight rate for transporting bricks from kilns to different places in the Valley.
 However, Transport Commissioner, Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo told Greater Kashmir that they will come out with the list of freight rates within next 10 days.
 “We are currently working on the issue. We will come up with the freight rates taking into account the expenditures the vehicle owners incur on account of diesel, etc. We will also take into account the cost of depreciation of vehicles,” Kakroo said. 
 Pertinently, as per the fresh rate list, the kiln owners have to sell 3000 bricks ex-kiln at Rs 15,500. The administration has asked the kiln owners to strictly adhere to the rate list, but officials state that without any approved freight charges “we cannot force the rate list.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 9 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 9 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST