THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The strike called by lorry owners is unlikely to affect the supply of essentials in the city markets.

Almost all major traders in Chala market have sufficient stock, and the prices of grain, vegetables and provisions will not soar in the wake of the strike.

The LPG consumers in the city though will have to bear the brunt of the strike. There is already an undeclared rationing on the supply of cylinders and the consumers have to wait for almost 30 days for the refill. Once the transportation of cylinders comes to a stop, the situation will worsen further, says N.K. Menon, president, All Kerala Bharat Gas Distributors Federation.

"Being unable to hike the price, oil companies have cut down the quota for the distributors. The absence of a mechanism to check the diversion of subsidised cylinders for non-domestic purposes has added to the crisis. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Labour Minister Babu Divakaran should immediately intervene to settle the lorry strike and mitigate the woes of the consumers," Capt. Menon said.

S. Thanu Pillai, secretary, Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce, said the strike would not affect the supply of grain and vegetables in the city. Though the State is heavily dependant on Tamil Nadu for vegetables and Andhra Pradesh for grain, the strike will not have any immediate impact. "There was no disruption in the supply on Monday. Inter-State lorries reached the market without any hindrance. Traders have stocked grain and provisions for 10 days and there is no chance of a sudden spurt in the prices of essentials," Mr. Thanu Pillai said.

V.L. Suresh, secretary, Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, Aryasala unit, said about 50 lorry loads of vegetables, fruits and flowers reach the market every day. Fruits and vegetables were brought to Chala from Tamil Nadu in mini-lorries, vans and bullock carts on Monday. "The stock of vegetable and fruits in the market will not exhaust for at least three days. An artificial scarcity of essentials in the wake of the strike is also highly unlikely and there is no chance of a price hike," he said.

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