KOZHIKODE: The state government has sought the intervention of the Centre into issues raised by lorry owners, who have called for an indefinite strike demanding the removal of toll plazas and revocation of the hike in third party insurance premium, said Transport Minister A K Saseendran. The ongoing lorry strike will affect the flow of essential goods to the state which will end up in rising prices, said the minister here in a press conference.
“Kerala is a consumer state which relies on other neighbouring states for essential goods. The lorry strike will affect the transportation of these goods. This will result in the shortage of goods in the state market,” he said adding that this would affect the interest of the people. “Any shortage in essential goods will come as a double whammy as the state has suffered huge losses during the monsoon season,” said Saseendran.
The minister also pointed out the state had incurred financial losses in terms of the reduced tax flow.
“Around 8,000 goods vehicles used to enter the state through various check-posts a day. It has come down to low as 1,000. The tax flow has come down from `8 lakh to `1 lakh,” he said.
Saseendran added the state will explore the possibility of transporting essential commodities through inter-state buses operated by the KSRTC. “A discussion with lorry owners has been scheduled on Wednesday at Thiruvananthapuram,” he said.
CM writes to Gadkari
T’Puram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday e-mailed Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari requesting the Central government’s urgent intervention to end the truckers’ strike. The Chief Minister contacted Gadkari as nearly 80 per cent of the truck arrivals in the state has stopped. The disruption in inter-state cargo movement has affected Kerala which is consumerist by nature. The state depends on its neighbours for essential commodities, the Chief Minister said.