The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Truck, van operators’ stir near-total

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Thursday, Jul 03, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Truck, van operators’ stir near-total

Special Correspondent

Distribution of milk was not affected in the State
School-going children were the worst affected

— Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

grinding to a halt: Lorries being parked at Elephant Gate in Chennai bringing to a halt transportation of goods on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: The indefinite strike by truck and van operators in the State from Tuesday night was near total with five lakh trucks, including three lakh lorries, joining the agitation.

Movement of container vans, trailers, tempos and light commercial vehicles came to a halt. There was no inward or outward movement of vehicles in the State. However, lorries carrying perishable commodities were allowed to reach their destinations.

The movement of essential articles, including milk and public distribution goods, were not affected as lorries carrying them were exempted, said Chennai Goods Transport Association secretary Ravi Shankar.

According to Aavin officials, distribution of milk was not affected in the State. Arrival of milk to district cooperative milk producers unions was normal and there was no disruption in the distribution also.

School-going children were the worst affected as school vans also joined the strike. However, things would become normal from Thursday as school vans were exempted from the strike.

On Wednesday they participated in the strike to extend their moral support to the agitation, said R. Kamalakannan, president of the Tamil Nadu Van Owners Association.

According to him about 1.19 lakh load vans and 24,000 maxi cabs were off the road.

The van operators staged a demonstration in Chennai on Wednesday urging the government to concede their demands.

The strike did not have much impact on vegetable prices in Chennai as 300 lorries arrived on Wednesday as against the normal arrival of 500 lorries.

But the situation would turn worse from Thursday, according to wholesale vegetable vendors.

They said their suppliers informed them that they had stopped booking vegetables from Wednesday.

The indefinite strike is in support of their demands for rationalisation of toll tax and transparent in diesel pricing. The call was given by the All-India Motor Congress.

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