SALEM: As the truckers strike entered the second day on Saturday, the industrial hubs in western districts of Tamil Nadu continue to be paralysed, even as hundreds of lorry drivers and load workers have been forced to go without work and their daily wages.
According lorry owners here, business to the tune of several crore of rupees have been lost due to the strike by the lorry owners across state as part of the national-level strike to press their charter of demands.
The Tamil Nadu Lorry Booking Agents Federation’s president, Mr. Rajavadivelu, said, “in the absence of a key means of transport goods as wide-ranging from sago, turmeric, steel to textile products and worth Rs 300 crore have been stagnating in Salem district alone in the last two days.”
Besides, a large number of drivers and new load workers in Salem have been rendered jobless, he said. The workers from Sevvaipettai market area urged both state and central governments to take immediate steps to resolve the truckers issue as it hit both the economy and employment.
Commenting on the issue, Salem district president of Lorry Owners Association, Mr. Sennakesavan, said, “Nearly 90 per cent of lorries are not being operated and remaining lorries are returning after dispatching goods. Prices of perishables in particular like vegetables and fruits have started to increase following the strike. However, prices of other goods including rice and cereals remain unchanged due to adequate stocks. But even those commodities will also be affected after next few days if lorry strike continues.”
