Karnataka: Truckers' stir - farm, realty hit on day 2

Bengaluru: The nationwide strike by truck owners entered second day with around two lakh trucks in the state going off the road. Farm and construction sectors are among the worst affected due to the strike.

“Supply of vegetables and other agricultural products have virtually stopped. Some farmers are using the mini lorries to transport the products, but in many places they are also participating in the strike. So on Friday the supply of vegetable to the city has come down by half,” said Yashvant Rao, a trader from Yeshwantpur.

All the major APMCs of the city witnessed a deserted look due to the strike. However the supply of vegetables to Horticultural Producers’ Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMS) has not been affected as its members are using bus services to supply products.

Construction activities across the city have almost stopped due to shortage of raw materials.“The city receives around 500 to 700 loads of sand every day, beside other raw materials. Since Thursday nothing was supplied to the construction site. So we are facing a problem,” said Sumanth Raju, a developer from Vijaynagar.

However, essential commodities are currently available across the city, but traders warn the situation could worsen if strike continues. “If strike continues for more than 3 or  4 days we will face shortage. We generally receive everything from APMCs or big suppliers. As supply is stopped we may face problem later,” said Shankar Kumar, a merchant from Malleswaram.

Deadlock may continue

• Transport department officials said the Centre and insurance companies may find it difficult to fulfill truck owners’ demands. The two major demands include abolition of toll on national highways and reduction in insurance premium.  “Insurance providers feel that commercial vehicle insurance schemes are incurring huge losses due to the inclusion of various new liabilities. So they are not ready to revise the premium. To maintain the National Highways toll is must. So the Central Government may not accept the demand,” said an officer.
•  Transport department has set up control rooms in all  districts to ensure that truck strike will not create problems for people. A coordination committee has been set up at the state level. People may call 080-22225805 or 22213785 in the event of shortage of essential commodities.

Fuel supply to be hit
Both factions of truck owners association on Friday announced that if union  and state governments fail to respond to their demands, even supply of petrol, diesel and LPG will be stopped. An union office-bearer told DC that they had decided to wait till Sunday evening. "If our demands are not met, then all essential supplies such as petrol, diesel, LPG will be stopped. Only milk will be spared," he said.