Transporters’ strike upsets the apple cart

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 25

The price of apple has touched a high at the Sector 26 fruit and the vegetable market, courtesy the strike by transporters which has affected the supply of fruits and other vegetables to the city. The strike entered its sixth day on Wednesday.

Brij Mohan, president of the Fruit and Vegetable Market Association, Sector 26, said since the supply of apple had reduced drastically, the rates of the fruit had doubled over the past three days. Apple was sold at Rs 150 per kg on Wednesday while it was available between Rs 70 and 80 per kg last week. He said the city was completely dependent on Himachal Pradesh for supply of apples.

Kartar Singh, a vendor, said the prices of all vegetables had increased by 30 to 40 per cent since transports went on strike.

Manoj Kumar Sharma, secretary, Market Committee, Chandigarh, said the mandi was receiving very less supply from Himachal Pradesh.

He said they had received only 200 boxes of apple on Wednesday and the quality of the fruit too was not good. He said the committee was keeping a watch on the transporters’ strike and necessary steps would be taken to keep the price under control.

The All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) had started a nationwide indefinite strike on July 20.

KK Abrol, president, Chandigarh Transport Association, said if the government did not pay heed to their demands, the common man would be the ultimate sufferer. He added that other unions lent support to their protest on Wednesday with their members expressing solidarity with the protesters at the Industrial Area.

BL Sharma, general secretary of the association, said the government should intervene and resolve the issue immediately as they did not want people to be harassed.