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Truck stir hits movement of essentials, but prices steady in Maharashtra

The transporters' strike in protest against the Maharashtra government's decision to levy toll tax on trucks and trailers at Bombay's five entry points to recover the costs of construction of flyovers met with a good response today, but severely affected movement of essential commodities.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane, meanwhile, said that the state government will not hold further negotiations with the striking transporters unless the strike is called off.

The state government will give its opinion to the high court on August 5 on the issue of toll tax, the chief minister said. Any decision to reduce the toll will require approval from the Election Commission since the period of code of conduct has already begun.

Prices of most essential commodities remained stable at the wholesale markets here despite the statewide indefinite transport strike. Traders said that prices of sugar, oils, onions, potato, spices and vegetables were nearly steady with minor differences due to the availability of adequate stocks at the yards.

The nearly 250,000 vehicles from all over Maharashtra stopped plying on the roads as also all the transport companies, enganged in booking, loading and unloading of consignments for various destinations stopped functioning.

The discussions between the government and the Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo Tankers Vus Vahatuk Mahasangh and members were unsuccessful as the latter did not agree for further postponement as they have already suffered heavy financial losses.

The state government will lose revenue of about Rs 100 million per day while transport operators will lose business about Rs 500 million in a single day as a result of the ongoing strike.

The indefinite strike has affected the essential wholesale commodity markets, particularly sugar, grains and other goods. In retail markets, sugar and groundnut oil prices have gone up to Rs 18-20 per kg and Rs 60-62 per litre respectively as against Rs 16-18 per kg, Rs 55 -57 per litre in the last week, a leading retailer said.

Similarly, all vegetable and fruit prices have also gone up by 25 per cent within the last few days in view of the strike.

UNI

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