news details |
|
|
| J&K may feel strike heat from today | | TRUCKERS’ STRIKE | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 11: Jammu and Kashmir has been one such state in India where impact of truckers’ strike remained minimal on general life but things are no more brighter as reserved stocks of essentials and raw materials for industries is about to exhaust.
During weeklong nationwide strike of truckers, there was not much hue and cry in Jammu and Kashmir for sufficient availability of stocks and discreet plying of some trucks. However, by tomorrow things may up for worst: market and industry input suggests that there are not enough stocks left for footing the requirements anymore.
“Effects will be seen by tomorrow on industry and market and most of the raw material and stocks have been consumed up”, says Ram Sahai, President of the Chambers of Commerce and Industries. Leaders of the Truckers’ association, Choudhary Piara Singh though says that the strike is complete but records suggest that the supply line were never completely snapped.
The average daily toll collection from truckers at the Lakahnpur post and other posts is of the order of around Rs 60 lakhs. However, the average daily collection in past one week is reported to be around Rs five lakhs. This suggests that some trucks have been plying but strike is not called off in next two days, Jammu may start feeling the heat. Meanwhile the Central Government has convened a meeting of the State Transport Ministers in New Delhi tomorrow to review the situation even as the government claimed that local supplies have improved.
The Central Government said local supplies have improved with truckers resuming services in many areas, while reiterating its threat that more states would invoke Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) to smoothen the supply of goods if the hauliers do not return to work in the remaining parts of the country.
However, agitating truckers are still holding out on their demands, while stressing "the strike is nationwide and complete", claimed All India Transporters Welfare Association President Ramesh Agarwal.
"The truckers in many parts of the country have started working... I am sure more and more transporters would return to work," Transport Secretary Brahm Dutt told reporters here.
However, he accepted that inter-state movement of goods as well as transportation of industrial products were affected due to the ongoing strike which has entered the seventh day today.
"Locally, the goods are being carried. The only thing that is affected is inter-state movement of goods and industrial and export products," Dutt said.
Meanwhile, Haryana invoked ESMA, becoming the eighth state so far to implement the step to deal with the strike.
"Haryana has also invoked ESMA and is firmly dealing (with striking transporters)," Dutt said.
Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Goa and Madhya Pradesh had invoked the law earlier in the week.
"Trucks have started plying in Mumbai, Pune, Vijaywada, Hasan and Jaipur... Situation is improving in other parts," Dutt said.
The Centre has called a meeting of all state transport ministers tomorrow to discuss the demands of agitating truckers.
However, the final solution to the problems of the transporters lies in enhancing industrial activity, Dutt said. "There has been some impact on truckers because of the economic slowdown. The ultimate solution to their problems lies in stepping up trade, industrial activity for which the government has announced two stimulus packages," he said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
