The Hindu : Truckers' strike pushes vegetable prices up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Truckers' strike pushes vegetable prices up

By N.Ravi Kumar

CHENNAI APRIL 14. Day-one of the nationwide strike by cargo transporters saw an estimated 10,000 trucks staying off city roads, even as the residents felt the first impact of the agitation in the soaring vegetable prices.

Though the sector leaders said the strike had brought to a grinding halt movement of all goods, except milk and water, the situation was not serious enough, since it was a government holiday today.

But, the strike had the potential to affect normal life on Tuesday, as the chances of vegetable prices spiralling, petrol bunks going low on stocks and backlogs of cooking gas refills building up at LPG distributorships are likely, in the absence of supplementary arrivals.

Following-up their upward trend of Sunday, vegetable prices reigned high on Monday, with tomatoes sold between Rs.16-18 per kg, while potatoes, onions and brinjal were priced at around Rs.8 per kg at Koyambedu. Green vegetables were costlier - beans at around Rs.24, and lady's fingers were around Rs.12 per kg.

"Though the market received fresh loads till Sunday night, the stocks would run out soon in view of the expected increase in buying. The only option available is to bring vegetables, especially tomatoes from Andhra Pradesh, by bus and private passenger transport vehicles. But, we would be able to bring only two loads as against the normal requirement of about 40 loads daily", said Riyaz Theen, a tomato merchant in Koyambedu.

The petroleum dealers are hoping for an early end to the agitation as the bunks were fed last with stocks on Sunday. "The Centre should intervene immediately and address the issues raised by the truckers", M. Kannan, Vice-President, Federation of All India Petroleum Traders said.

Voicing concern at a possible disruption in supplies, sources among LPG distributors said, "The stir comes at a time when we just achieved a no-backlog situation".

A shortfall in the availability of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) at the airport could not be ruled out, "as the storage there is enough to cater to only two-days demand", claimed R. Sukumar, President, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur district lorry tanker, tipper, trailer, van owners associations welfare committee. Normal movement, he added, was affected as the cargo vehicles including those handling export import goods did not ply.

A.M. Hari Narayanan, President, Tamil Manila Mini Lorry Owner's and Suppliers Association, said truckers were protesting against frequent revision in diesel prices, the inconsistent premium charged by the insurance firms and to attract attention of the Centre to recognise the transporters as an industry.

The estimated daily business of each of the 10,000 cargo transport vehicles in the city is Rs.1,000 and at least eight persons directly depend on each of them for livelihood.

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