Transporters to stop supplies of essential commodities if demands not met
Lorries parked in Miyapur on Wednesday. (Photo: DC)
Hyderabad: The indefinite lorry strike by the Telangana Lorry Owners’ Association, which began on Wednesday, has resulted in prices of essential commodities rising in Telangana.
The Telangana Lorry Owners’ Association (TLOA) has been demanding that AP and TS reach an agreement on payment of fixed taxes for transport vehicles. Lorry owners are demanding that Telangana government slash tax in view of bifurcation of AP.
Barring fuel, milk and water, the transporters have halted the entry of all supplies and have threatened to stop even these emergency supplies after two-three days if the government fails to respond positively to their demands.
On the very first day of the strike itself, supply of vegetables, fruits and other essentials were badly hit. “We have been demanding that the two states enter an agreement on counter signature permit, an annual permit allowing trucks to ply between the states on payment of a fixed tax. Telangana is charging '1,400 as permit fee for Telangana trucks plying in APh, causing a huge financial burden. This tax should be reduced,” said TLOA president N. Bhaskar Reddy.
The city markets are heavily dependent on transport supplies from neighbouring districts of Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda and Medak and neighbouring states Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra, especially for fruits, vegetables, rice, pulses and cereals.
Fruits and vegetable markets in Kothapet, Gaddiannaram, Monda, Mehdipatnam, Malakpet receive 500 trucks per day, which has now been halted completely. These markets managed with old stocks till Wednesday evening, but will feel the pressure from Thursday.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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