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Lorry stir: steps to hold price line

Kerala Bureau

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State government will take steps to prevent price rise in view of a strike by a section of lorry owners outside the State. A high-level conference attended by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran here on Tu esday assessed that no panic situation existed in the State.

There were enough stocks of vegetables as of now. Directives had been issued to bring vegetables by train or KSRTC buses if the strike continued. Existing stocks of petrol and diesel were sufficient for one week, the meeting noted.

The meeting resolved to take action to prevent hoarding and shortages which may lead to rise in prices.

Prices going up

The strike by goods transporters has led to the increase in prices of some perishables in the Ernakulam wholesale market. N.H. Shameed, general secretary of the Ernakulam Market Stall Owners’ Association, said the price of onion increased by Rs.4 a kg and potato by Rs.3 a kg on Tuesday. It was uncertain if lorries from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka would bring in ve getables and foodgrains. The Kerala State Lorry Owners’ Federation has said that the operators in the State are wil ling to run lorries, but unable to do so because of the strike.

Crisis management

The State government has decided to set up crisis management cells for the major rice-growing regions of the State.. Each cell will be headed by the District Collector concerned. Officers of the Agriculture Department will be the members.

These cells will mobilise timely action to prevent pest attacks and crop diseases and when natural calamities strike, Agriculture Minister Mullakara Ratnakaran said in a press release on Tuesday.

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