The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Truckers’ stir: hard times ahead for State

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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Truckers’ stir: hard times ahead for State

Kerala Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram: The all-India strike launched by the truckers on Wednesday demanding abolition of toll tax and rationalisation of duty on diesel is all set to precipitate yet another crisis in Kerala. The disruption in the movement of essential commodities even for a single day could lead to shortages and price rise in a State which has to depend on the other States for everything, including rice and vegetables.

The strike outside Kerala might start affecting the prices and availability of essential articles on the Thiruvananthapuram market if it continues for more than a couple of days, according to merchants.

All essential commodities reach the Thiruvananthapuram market from trading towns in Tamil Nadu. Some articles such as rice, potato and onion reach here from Andhra Pradesh and north Indian States. Though truck owners in Kerala are not participating in the strike, their vehicles could come across difficulty in operating inter-State service because of the strike. According to Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithy district secretary Y. Vijayan, the impact of the strike could be first noticed in the case of vegetables and flowers since these are perishable items that flow from Tamil Nadu on a daily basis.

Staff Reporter writes from Kochi: The strike failed to make a perceptible impact in KeralaThe stocks of perishables generally last for a day or two and hence the shortage would be felt only after 24 hours, according to market sources.

The Supplyco officials maintained that there was a comfortable stock of rice and pulses as it had been procuring commodities through monthly tenders and the responsibility of delivery rests with the contractor. The next contract is to be given only after July 15, a top official said. It would take two days to feel the impact on the market, according to M.Krishnan Nair, a leader of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasyi Ekopana Samithi. As the rice consignments from Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal generally arrive by train, the lorry strike would not have an immediate impact in the rice market, according to Joshey, a leader of the Ernakulam Merchants Union. A few loads of vegetables had arrived at the Ernakulam market on Wednesday, he said.

Staff Reporter writes from Kozhikode: The strike did not affect the movement of goods in Kozhikode market. Lorries from other States arrived in Palayam, the main market in the city.

Zakeer, secretary of the Palayam unit of the Vegetable Association, said that there was no problem in the arrival of vegetables. He, however, added that the real picture of shortage of vegetables, if any, could be known only on Friday after the hartal on Thursday as they were mainly sourced from Bangalore and Tamil Nadu.

Kerala State Lorry Owners’ Federation State president P.M. Mohammed Ali said that lorries from the State would ply in the State, even though they would not venture out of the State. The organisation would not block the movement of lorries from the other States which came with goods to the State.

“There is no increase in the price of vegetables as on Wednesday,” A.Pavithran, a vegetable merchant said.

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