Transporters’ strike hits supply of essentials

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 22

The indefinite strike called by the All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) on Friday has affected the fruit and vegetable supply. Prices of eatables and other daily use items are expected to rise in the coming days.

Jagjit Singh Kamboj, owner of Akal Transporters, said: “A hike of Rs 200 per quintal in the prices of vegetables such as potato, onion and tomato has already been fixed for the coming two-three days.”

He added that vendors at vegetable markets have started charging Rs 20-25 more for vegetables and fruits brought from other cities. Moreover, on the third day of the strike, members of the local unit of the AIMTC restrained tempo and truck drivers from transporting goods to other cities.

Secretary at Maqsudan sabzi mandi Rupinder Minhas said though repercussions of the strike were not observed considerably but on Monday onwards, a hike in the prices of seasonal fruits coming from other cities would definitely be ascertained.

“We were told that the supply of items brought from other cities has been curbed, hence there would be a shortage of vegetables and fruits such as onions and mangoes which are transported from Nasik and UP, respectively,” Minas said.

Also, items supplied from the city to other cities had also been curbed, only those items which get spoiled in a day or two were allowed to move, that too in the night hours, said a supplier.

Mohinder Singh, vice-president, AIMTC, Jalandhar unit, said: “The  transport business in the city has been stopped to draw more support from the transporters. Notably, the strike was organised against the imposition of extra taxes imposed on transporters. The demands raised during the protests were reduction in diesel prices, uniform pricing nationally and quarterly revision of taxes, free toll barrier across the country, transparency in the Third Party Bima Premium (TPP) and it should be GST-free, besides the commission granted to agents through comprehensive policies should be ended.”

All truckers told to support stir

Transporters even stopped heavy vehicles coming from other cities on highways and asked drivers to support them in their strike against the Central as well as state governments for their unfavourable tax structure for transporters. Only trucks and loaders carrying important goods were allowed to move while others were halted and requested to join the strike.