The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Truckers’ strike begins; minimal impact on first day

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Thursday, Jul 03, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Truckers’ strike begins; minimal impact on first day

Exemption given to vehicles carrying milk and water
Loading, unloading of goods stopped in wholesale markets

VIJAYAWADA: The all India transporters strike for which a call was given by the All India Motor Transport Congress began on Wednesday, but the impact was minimal on the first day.

Most of the four lakh goods vehicles belonging to 160 different associations affiliated to the Andhra Pradesh Lorry Owners Association (APLOA), the State level body, were taken off the roads in support of four main demands that await resolution at the level of the Central government. A few demands put forth by the APLOA pertain to the State government as well.

APLOA secretary T. Lakshmana Swami said exemption had been given to vehicles carrying milk and water. Vehicles that supply petrol and diesel to different filling stations had also been taken off the roads, if they belonged to the associations affiliated to the APLOA. “We will stop the vehicles owned by the oil companies too, if they continue to supply the fuels,” he cautioned.

Hopes of settlement

Mr. Swami hoped that the Central government would take steps to resolve the crisis at the earliest by inviting representatives of the All India Motor Transport Congress to talks.

Once the main demands were resolved in Delhi, the other issues could be thrashed out in Hyderabad, he said.

There was not much of an impact of the strike in the city on the first day, with vegetables and essential commodities being available as usual. A few long-haul vehicles were allowed to reach the owners premises and halted there immediately.

Loading and unloading of goods was suspended in the main wholesale markets. Traders said if the strike continued beyond two or three days there would be a scarcity of vegetables and essential commodities.

Plan to seek SCR help

Hyderabad Special Correspondent writes: Transport Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana, who reviewed the situation arising out of the strike on Wednesday, asked the department officials to explore the possibility of taking assistance of the SCR for the movement of essential commodities.

He directed officials to take steps to ensure that the public were not put to any hardship due to the strike. Transport Commissioner J. Raymond Peter said in a press release that goods vehicles carrying loads were permitted to reach their destination.

Meanwhile, K. Rajamouli, president, State Motor Transport Operators’ Association, said that its members were not joining the strike. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting on Tuesday.

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