Supply of essential commodities not to be hit, say lorry owners’ associations

Supply of essential commodities including vegetables, fruits and fuel to the city will not be affected due to the proposed ‘Chakka Jam’ called by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) from Friday. The strike was called to press for demands including removal of daily pricing mechanism for diesel, toll collection and reduction in insurance premium.

M. Thyagarajan, president, Koyambedu Vegetable, Fruit and Flower Traders’ Welfare Association, said that the 500-odd trucks entering the market on a daily basis would continue to bring goods.

“Though the demands are genuine, we can only offer them moral support since our trucks carry perishable goods. We have a responsibility towards farmers and consumers,” he said. Oil industry sources said supplies would not be hit. Similarly, sources added that trucks operating out of the major ports and railway yards would not take part in the strike.

AIMTC south zone vice- president P.V. Subramani said that there were over seven lakh transport trucks in Tamil Nadu and a vast percentage of those would stop operating from 6 a.m. on Friday. “We will not force anybody to join us. But we are suffering due to the policies of the Central government, which is forcing us to go on this ‘Chakka Jam.’ Though the government agrees with us, as of now they are unable to do anything for us,” he told The Hindu.

V. Selvaraju, president, Sankagiri Lorry Owners Association, said that 20,000 trucks in his area were joining the strike. “At least 15% of our vehicles have been seized by financiers since we are unable to repay the loans. The varying prices of diesel in different States and the changes on a daily basis are affecting the industry,” he said.

N.R. Karthik, secretary, Southern Region Bulk LPG Transport Operators Association, said that they had extended moral support to the ‘Chakka Jam.’ “We will load and unload LPG. But if there is an issue enroute, we will be forced to stop vehicles to avoid untoward incidents,” he said.