The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Merchants allay fears of any food shortage

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Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009
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Merchants allay fears of any food shortage

Bangalore Bureau

Truck arrivals drop at APMC yard, but business is not hit

A section of truckers is not backing the strike
Traders say situation may turn bad if the
strike continues

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

good business: With truckers on strike, there was good demand for small goods vehicles at APMC Yard at Yeshwanthpur in Bangalore on Tuesday.

BANGALORE: As the all-India truckers’ strike entered the second day on Tuesday, the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) yard at Yeshwanthpur here witnessed a drop in the arrival of trucks while the business remained as usual in K.R. Market.

“The number of trucks arriving at the market has dropped sharply. Only 85 trucks arrived by Monday night as against the daily average of 150 trucks,” an APMC official told The Hindu.

“It is difficult to set foot around this area on normal days with the flow of trucks being constantly heavy,” said Krishna, an employee in one of the several trading enterprises in the yard, pointing out at a marginally deserted truck parking area.

While many drivers and cleaners were seen idling around the parking area, some cleaners and drivers were busy loading their trucks, which were not taking part in the strike. “We did not take part in the strike on the second day too,” said a release from Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owner’s Association of Chenna Reddy faction.

Some traders at Yeshwanthpur APMC were seen going about their business with a tinge of anxiety as some of their own ilk were facing a sharp decrease in sales.

“Till now, it has not been bad, but it will be tough if the strike continues, especially as some of the commodities such as dal are in short supply, as it is an off-season,” Rafiq Bhai of A.A.A. Traders said.

Adequate stocks

Allaying any fears of food shortage, wholesale grain merchants said that the available stocks would last for another two weeks.

“The transport for perishable commodities is usually secure. We had alerted the traders about the possible strikes. A week’s arrivals have already been procured,” said E. Krishnappa, president of APMC yard.

According to an APMC official, the arrival of commodities on Tuesday remained almost normal.

A total of 16,853 quintals of rice arrived at the yard. On an average, Yeshwanthpur yard receives around 16,000 quintals on weekdays.

The arrival of potato, one of the highest flowing commodities in the yard, stood at 7,086 quintals while onion, yet another highest flowing commodity stood at 18,822 quintals. While loading of goods has been usual in K.R. Market, many wholesalers say that the stocks will last for another week, though many other items are yet to arrive.

“I do not know how long it will take to get the goods. Only after four or five days will we be able to assess the situation,” Sujay Mutha, a wholesaler of grocery items in K.R. Market, said.

Tempos to join strike

Meanwhile, the Federation of Goods Truck Association (FGTA) has extended support to the all-India strike and will join it from midnight of Tuesday.

The FGTA legal adviser R. Mahesh told presspersons that about 10 lakh tempo owners and 3.65 lakh lorry owners were expected to participate in it.

However, the FGTA, would not disturb the tempos that carry essential commodities such as milk, vegetables, newspapers, he said.

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