BENGALURU: Adverse effects of the ongoing indefinite nationwide truckers strike on the trade and industry sectors will soon be felt in the state, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) said on Monday.
“Though the effects are not felt now in Karnataka, it is bound to happen soon. The loss due to this strike could be to the tune of `1,000 crore per day in Karnataka.It is high time the government intervenes and resolves the issue to save trade and industry sector, particularly the MSMEs who have already been hit hard due to several reasons,” CR Janardhana, senior vice-president of FKCCI, said in a statement.
The trade body is also worried that the rise in prices of petrol and diesel, which the truckers are demanding a rollback on, would affect all industrial inputs and the cost of finished products. “The industry is already suffering on account of credit crunch. With the transport strike, the raw material supply will be delayed affecting production. This may result in the purchase orders being cancelled especially for the export and other crucial industries whose projects are time-bound,” he said.
Truckers are demanding an immediate reduction in the price of diesel besides other demands which include abolishing the highway toll collection system in favour of an indirect tax. According to the associations, this would help save time and fuel for the transporters.