Strike keeps 65,000 trucks off the road

– JANUARY 3, 2012POSTED IN: ARTICLES, AUTOMOTIVE & TRUCKS

Indian consumers will be parting with more money when buying essential goods as almost 65,000 trucks have called a strike and there will be no transportation of goods across the country. This indefinite strike is supported by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) in order to protest against the exorbitant hike in taxes, fuel prices and insurance premium. G R Shanmugappa, President,AIMTC, stated that although the Centre wants to have a meeting with truck owners, the strike will nonetheless continue. All lorry owners have extended their support in this strike except water and milk suppliers. Even the truck-booking offices of Erode, Namakkal, Salem, Thoothykudi, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tirunelveli have ceased their bookings.

Industry experts stated that if this strike carries on, the prices for essential commodities and vegetables are likely to go up significantly. The transportation of vegetables have already decreased in Karnataka leading to further stagnation of goods costing Rs 3,500 each day in southern India.

High toll rates have also been one of the major reasons for this strike by truck operators. Toll taxes went up by 10 percent on the 1^st September 2011 all across Tamil Nadu. The strike announced jointly by State Federation of Lorry Owners Association – Tamil Nadu (SFLOATN) and AIMTC against rising diesel prices is expected to continue indefinitely, severely affecting or halting completely the movement of goods in Tamil Nadu as well. K Nallathambi, President of SFLOATN, said that over 90 percent of lorries were off the road. The National Highway Authority (NHAI) has announced that there might be a further increase in toll taxes even though trucks are off the road. This has infused more agitation and anger among people, encouraging truck owners to completely stay off the roads. According to Nallathambi, Tamil Nadu is the worst hit by the toll tax increase since it has got the highest number of toll plazas. An IMTC meeting is due to take place in the near future to discuss this nationwidestrike. Sella Ranjamani, President of Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Federation, has allegedly contacted the the State Chief Minister, Jayalalitha, on police protection for their lorries and vehicles.

Some of the truck owners at Chennai also met Tamil Nadu food minister Budhichandiran to discuss this issue in detail. However, these truck operators were asked not to stop supplying pulses, grains and rice that come under Public Distribution System, Tamil Nadu. Truck owners agreed to the proposal and are willing to continue supplying milk, water, medicines and newspapers.

There has also been a levy of Rs 2 per litre of diesel purchased, which aggravated the consumers even more. This has been going on near the rural belts of the Karnataka. B R Shanmukhappa, President of Karnataka Lorry Owners and Agents Union, stated that the removal of such taxes will be inevitable otherwise trucks will stay off the roads until these demands are adequately met. Thus, the relevant proposals have been put forward to the government heads; in the meantime truck owners and drivers continue to stick to their protest.