No impact of transporters strike on prices in Delhi
New
Delhi: A day after transporters went on a nationwide
indefinite strike, the prices of essential commodities
remained unaffected at wholesale markets on Tuesday. The
operators at the markets said the strike had not affected
the prices of the perishable commodities, especially.
"The strike has not affected the Delhi vegetable market
as such. We are getting the supplies. I don''t think that
it has been affected much. Save for two-three percent
reduction in supplies, there is not much loss," said Bhajan
Singh, Vice Chairman, Agricultural Produce Marketing Centre,
Azadpur vegetable market. The market continued to receive
the supply of vegetables from in and around Delhi as usual,
and vegetable vendors said that the strike had no impact
on the functioning of the vegetable market so far. "As
of now, the market has not been affected much. The supply
of vegetables coming from in and around Delhi has not
been affected," said Bharat Saini, a vegetable vendor.
However, the vendors are of the view that the real impact
of the strike would be known only after two or three days.
"The transporters strike has not affected the market as
such. The supply of vegetables is as usual. It will be
only after a day or two that the real impact of the strike
would be known," said Shiv Kumar, a vegetable trader.
The All India Motor Transport Congress, which represents
around six million trucks across the country have called
indefinite strike since Monday seeking lowering of diesel
prices besides the withdrawal of service tax on truckers.
The transporters have demanded that the government should
provide concessions and bailout packages as provided to
many other industries. They say that they are also struggling
to repay loans and put up with high fuel prices, high
prices of tyres and numerous taxes More than 70 per cent
of freight in India moves by road, and truckers have benefited
from a booming economy that requires transportation of
steel and cement, as well as an improving network of highways
and all this has prompted the demand for trucks. But the
country''s 200,000 transport companies have been hit in
recent months by a slowing economy, higher interest rates
on vehicle loans and greater competition from the railways.
Sales of trucks and buses at Tata Motors, fell by more
than half in December from a year ago. India cut prices
of petrol and diesel on December 8 after crude oil tumbled,
but the economy, has shown palpable signs of slowing amid
a global financial crisis, after growing at nine per cent
or more in the past three years. Talks with the government
would continue, as per transport officials, but a prolonged
strike could nudge up prices of fruits and vegetables
and disrupt supplies of other commodities. A three-day
trucker''s strike last July calling for lower road tolls
and cheap diesel had pushed up prices.
Efforts
to ensure free flow of essential commodities
The
Government is making all efforts to ensure free flow of
essential commodities so as to minimize the inconvenience
to the general public owing to the transporters’ strike
which entered its second day today. As per the report
available with the Department of Road Transport & Highways,
there is no report of adverse impact on supply of essential
commodities across the country. The State Governments
have been advised to take all possible measures to ensure
that the supply of essential commodities is not disturbed.
An action plan has already been suggested to the State
Governments specifically to deal with the strike situation.
The suggestive action plan includes declaring transport
services as an essential service and invoking ESMA/NSA/Other
legal instruments, cancellation of permit under Section
86 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, requisitioning trucks
and lorries under relevant legal provisions, involving
local traders/business community etc. The States have
also been advised to make use of the transport vehicles
for carrying essential commodities without the requirement
of any permit under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles
Act, 1988. The Maharashtra Government has already issued
notification to this effect. The States have also been
advised to make adequate arrangements at railway terminals
to speed up the loading/unloading of the goods transported
through rail. In the meanwhile, the Ministry of Railways
has issued instructions to all its zonal offices to ensure
speedy movement of essential commodities such as perishable
goods, food grains for public distribution system, edible
salt, oil products etc.
-Jan
6, 2009
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