KENDRAPARA: A large number of betel vine farmers, fish traders and coconut suppliers have been adversely affected by the truckers’ strike in Kendrapara district for the last three days.Ramesh Mandal, a fish supplier from Mahakalapada, said the fate of several fish traders of the district and its nearby areas is hanging in balance due to the nationwide stir. He said fish is supplied to West Bengal from the district by trucks every day but the strike has affected the business.
Sangram Behera, a fish supplier from Kendrapara, said the prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed due to the strike. He said 12 trucks with `12-15 lakh worth of fish leave from Kendrapara to West Bengal and North-Eastern States every day. Another fish trader from Kendrapara, Basant Mahalik, said since most of the fish traders do not have cold storage facilities, they are compelled to sell their stock at lower price.
Similar is the fate of betel leaf growers. The trade has been hit severely as businessmen from Kendrapara and other areas are reluctant to buy leaves from farmers due to the strike. Mahendra Sahoo, a betel leaf trader from Mahakalapada, said betel leaf worth `1 lakh is rotting at his store since the strike began.
Coconut traders in the coastal district also are facing the heat of the strike. Ramesh Sahoo, a coconut supplier from Kendrapara said coconuts are supplied from the district to New Delhi, Bihar and other States by road. Meanwhile, Sumant Kumar Biswal, vice-president of State Truck Owners’ Federation, said hundreds of iron ore laden trucks are stranded on National Highway as a result of the strike.
Goods supply affected
Berhampur: Supply of essential commodities to Bada Bazaar, the wholesale market of Silk City, was adversely affected due to an indefinite strike called by truckers under the aegis of All-India Motor Transport Congress from Friday. The truckers’ strike, affected supply of goods to the market even as some wholesalers said they have enough stock for a couple of days.