Industrial production down, veggie prices up

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, July 27

The transporters’ strike started showing its impact. With industrial production down almost 30 per cent, the prices of eatables had gone up 20 per cent due to disruption in supply. The strike resulted in a loss of over Rs 100 crore so far.

More than 20,000 trucks and goods carriers were off the roads as part of the All India Motor Transport Congress strike. "Industrial production has been hit with movement of manufactured goods and raw material having been affected," said Col S Kapoor, director of the Faridabad Industries Association.

He said with a majority of units facing the heat, there could be a temporary shutdown soon. An official of a leading textile manufacturing unit said production and supply had been down 20 per cent and work shifts had been reduced. The city had more than 15,000 units.

Ashok Pal, patron of the New Fruit and Vegetable Market Association, Old Faridabad, said continuation of the strike could disrupt supply and double the prices of a majority of items. The prices of onion, tomato, potato and fruits had gone up 25 per cent, he added.

Movement of trucks on the sly was a cause of concern for transporters. "We are trying to plug loopholes," said Subhash Kaushik of the All Faridabad Transport Association. District Food and Supply Controller KK Goyal said the movement of essential commodities like wheat, rice, sugar and oil were not affected.