Bengaluru: The Cauvery water dispute has taken a heavy toll on the economy of both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as trucks loaded with goods headed for both states and also other destinations have been stranded for the last few days. Merchants and manufacturers fear that losses have already run into several hundred crores.
With Monday violence still fresh in their minds, truckers are refusing to ferry goods in their TN-registered vehicles. Many industries in both states have shut operations temporarily for want of raw material as it is sourced from each other.
At the Yeshwanthpur APMC yard, over 70,000 bags of onion and 35,000 bags of potato are waiting for trucks. “Brief spells of rain over Bengaluru over the last two to three days has worsened the situation. The consignment will rot if it is not transported immediately. We are planning to send trucks with the goods either Friday or Saturday night with full police protection till Tamil Nadu border,” said Mr Kumar, an office-bearer at the Yeshwanthpru Merchants' Association.
Every day, around 20,000 bags of onion, 10,000 bags of potato and 5,000 bags of garlic go to Tamil Nadu in 250-300 trucks. But, since violence broke out in Bengaluru, there has been no movement of trucks. The situation might return to normal after Karnataka stops releasing water to TN, he said. Karnataka State Lorry Owners’ Association president Shanmukappa said that scores of trucks carrying cotton bales, garments, auto parts, steel, salt, Burma wood, agricultural products and chicken come to Karnataka from the Madras port, Tuticoron, Chennai, Tiruppur, Sivakasi, Coimbatore, Salem and other places of Tamil Nadu. But, the movement of trucks has completely stopped since Monday.
“The loss could be around Rs 300 crore, including Rs 150 crore on diesel. Bengaluru is the economic hub of the entire country as over 40,000 trucks pass through the city to various destinations in the North, South, East and West. Besides, the city also regularly received around 400 containers from the Madras Harbor carrying consignment to many multi-national companies,” he said.
Mr M.R. Kumaraswamy, president, State Lorry Owners’ Association of Tamil Nadu, said “We will not come to Karnataka unless the Karnataka government gives security to our vehicles, drivers and goods. Over 60 TN registered trucks were burnt, the glass panes of over 3,000 vehicles were broken and 50 drivers were beaten up in Karnataka last week. How can we send our trucks when there is no security? It is true that we are incurring losses of around Rs 1,000 crore every day, but what to do? Life is more precious than business.”
He said the drivers are scared to go to Karnataka. Thousands of trucks are stationed on the Karnataka-TN border waiting for the situation to return to normal. “The economy of both states has gone for a toss. The Karnataka government should ensure security for TN vehicles,” he said.
