Thiruvananthapuram: The indefinite strike by lorry owners has failed to make any impact as there is no shortage of essential commodities, LPG, petrol and diesel, Minister for Transport Mathew T. Thomas said on Tuesday.

He was addressing a press conference at the headquarters of the Motor Vehicles Department here.

The Minister said 2,207 heavy vehicles had crossed 17 check-posts of the State by 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) was available in the three airports in the State. Steps had been taken to ensure that there was no shortage of ATF as it could be transported only in special tankers.

A cell had been opened at the office of the State Transport Commissioner in the capital city. The District Collector, the Superintendent of Police and the Regional Transport Officer had been asked to monitor the situation. The lorries bringing goods to the State would be given police protection, if needed. The lorry owners had not given a strike notice to the Government till date, the Minister said.

The Government would take stern action if the strike affected the common man, he said. Asked about invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), he said the Government had avoided the option in the two agitations launched after the Left Democratic Front (LDF) came to power.

On the support extended by lorry owners from Tamil Nadu to the indefinite strike, Mr. Thomas said the Chief Secretary and the Director-General of Police were in touch with their counterparts in Tamil Nadu on the issue.

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