Truck operators’ strike enters Day 3: effect minimal

A countrywide strike by truck operators entered the third day today, without any solution in sight. Both transporters and the government are holding on to their stands.

However, cracks seem to be showing up among the various participants of the strike. While some unions are not keen on continuing with the stir, the participation amongst drivers is also low.

President of the All India Motor Transport Congress, Charan Singh Lohara, has said his firm is continuing with the strike despite the heavy losses.

Truckers have taken their vehicles off road since Sunday midnight, their key demands being reduction in diesel prices, exemption in service and toll taxes and a single permit for nationwide transportation.

Transporters yesterday sought the prime minister's intervention for an early resolution to the impasse.

The strike has affected the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Karnataka. There has also been partial impact in Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

Commodity prices on the futures market have firmed up in anticipation of shortages while retail prices of vegetables are yet to feel the impact.

Government measures
The government, meanwhile, has taken help from the Railways, besides taking other steps, to maintain supplies of essential commodities.

The government said it was making all efforts to ensure free flow of essential commodities so as to minimise the inconvenience to the general public owing to the transporters' strike. As per the report available with the department of road transport and highways, there is no report of adverse impact on supply of essential commodities across the country.

The state governments have been advised to take all possible measures to ensure that supplyies of essential commodities are not disturbed. An action plan has already been suggested to the state governments specifically to deal with the strike situation.

The suggested steps include declaring transport services as an essential service and invoking ESMA/NSA/other legal instruments, cancellation of permit under section 86 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, requisitioning trucks and lorries under relevant legal provisions, involving local traders/business community etc. 

The states have also been advised to make use of the passenger transport vehicles for carrying essential commodities without the requirement of any permit under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Maharashtra government has already issued notification to this effect. The states have also been advised to make adequate arrangements at railway terminals to speed up the loading/unloading of the goods transported through rail.

In the meanwhile, the ministry of railways has issued instructions to all its zonal offices to ensure speedy movement of essential commodities such as perishable goods, food grains for public distribution system, edible salt, oil products etc.