NAMAKKAL: The truckers strike commencing Friday hit business transactions to the tune of Rs 250 crore in a day in the state, said president of the State Lorry Owners Federation, Tamil Nadu, M R Kumarasamy.
Denying reports that lorries were plying as usual, he said the truckers strike, to press their charter of demands was “successful” across Tamil Nadu, adding, about 4.50 lakh lorries were off the roads. It has hit the transportation of essential goods, though vehicles carrying milk and vegetables were not stopped, he noted.
According to him, about 15 lakh lorries are off the road in south India, which affected business transactions of nearly Rs 600 crore on the first day of the strike. The nation-wide indefinite strike by lorry owners began on Friday and most lorry owners in Tamil Nadu supported the strike over their demands, including reining in fuel price, bringing fuel under the GST regime and regulation of toll gate fee.
M R Kumarasamy said that the strike would be intensified if government does not respond. Commenting on the issue, Salem District Lorry Owners Association president Sennakesavan said, “Of the 34,000 lorries in Salem district, 70 per cent were not operated. The remaining lorries will be stopped within the next two days.”
According to poultry farm owners, about ten crore worth 2.5 crore eggs remained non-lifted on Friday. Poultry farm owners announced that they would take part in the strike for two days and requested the operation of egg and broiler bird transport lorries from Saturday night. Since arrival of raw materials for poultry feed from north India were already stopped three days ago, the strike will create a severe scarcity for poultry feed.
