Karnataka - Hassan   

Hamalis hit by truckers’ strike

An alternative: Bullock carts are being used to transport commodities from the APMC Yard to local merchants in Hassan.

HASSAN: Lakshmamma, a hamali working at the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) yard in Hassan, said on Thursday that her family would have to go without food if the truckers’ strike continued for two more days.

Lakshmamma is among nearly 1,000 hamalis working at the APMC yard as well at the Railway Yard here. They have had no work since Monday because of the truckers’ strike.

Ramanna, another hamali, said, he earned only when goods were loaded or unloaded from trucks at the yards. They said that if the strike, which entered fourth day on Thursday, continued for a few more days they would be left with nothing to eat.

Jagadish, an onion merchant at the APMC yard, said that onion and garlic was brought to the yard from Harihar, Davangere and Hubli, and potato from Punjab.

The last consignment of onion, garlic and potato arrived here on Tuesday, he said.

“We are transporting them to local merchants by bullock carts. However, we are finding it difficult to transport them to taluk centres. If the strike continued, by Friday the prices of onion, garlic and potato will go up by at least Rs. 5 a kg, if the stock lasted,” he said.

Manjebdas, a lorry driver who had brought a load of potato from Punjab to Hassan on Tuesday, said he was stuck here in view of the strike. He had spent whatever money he had during the journey. He had parked his lorry on the ring road and was waiting for the strike to end, he said.

There are several such lorry drivers who are affected by the strike. Vice-president of the Karnataka State Lorry Owners’ Association Annaji told The Hindu that the strike would continue.

He said that former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani had supported the strike. The Communist party of India (Marxist) had passed a resolution urging the Government to consider the truckers’ demands.

President of the All India Lorry Owners’ Association and other office-bearers met Mr. Deve Gowda and Mr. Advani in Delhi on Thursday, he said.

Mr. Annaji said the association was supplying food to lorry drivers and cleaners in Hassan district.

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