VIJAYAWADA: The indefinite strike called by Andhra Pradesh Lorry Owners’ Association (APLOA) has badly affected vendors at the State’s largest wholesale fruit market of Kedareswarapet in the city.
The fruit vendors in the market have reportedly incurred a revenue loss of around `5 crore from March 30, the first day of the strike.
According to fruit vendors, the market imports tonnes of fruits like green grape, pomegranate and orange from Solapur in Maharashtra, apple from eastern States and pineapple from Kerala.
With the indefinite strike, several hundred tonnes of fruits were stranded on the mid-way.
Meanwhile, demand for various fruits is on the rise due to the festive season.
“In the last two days, many people returned empty-handed from the market after witnessing the prices of fruits. Due to lack of supply, prices of apple, pomegranate and orange have sky-rocketed. The Central government should hold talks with the lorry owners and take steps to end the strike at the earliest.
The fruit vendors are already suffering loss after demonetisation,” said Kedareswarapet wholesale fruit market secretary N Chiranjeevi.Chilli and mango farmers were also hit hard due to the strike. Huge stocks of chillies sold by farmers have been piled up at the Agriculture Market Yard at Guntur. And exports from Nunna market to northern states have been stopped.
Farmers deplored that they were already reeling under crisis due to lack of remunerative price and better crop yield. If the lorry owners failed to call off the strike, farmers will be thrown into debts, they said.
APLOA blocks petrol tankers
The APLOA has blocked petrol tankers, lorries and heavy vehicles in Kadapa and staged a massive agitation. In Vijayawada, Krishna District Lorry Owners Association (KDLOA) has organised a meeting and prepared an action plan to intensify their strike. “Even as the lorry strike entered the seventh day, the Central and State governments are not considering our demands seriously. Third-party insurance and toll fee put a huge burden on lorry operators.
The governments should come forward to resolve our problems,” said KDLOA general secretary S Ramesh Babu. “We will intensify our protests. Lorries and trucks carrying vegetables and other essential commodities will stop their services and join the strike from Thursday,” said APLOA president Y V Eswara Rao.
Petrol Tankers Association, which participated in the strike on Tuesday, took an exemption in the district considering the festival season. Meanwhile, diesel sales in the State have come down.