TIRUCHY: Goods worth over `14 crores have been held up in Tiruchy district, owing to the nationwide, indefinite strike by the lorry associations from Monday, demanding regulation of the rise in diesel prices.
The association has also demanded the hike in third party insurance cost and toll rates.
During a media interaction in Tiruchy, on Tuesday, S Joseph, leader of Tiruchy District Lorry Owners and Drivers-welfare Organisation (TDLODO), said, “The diesel prices has recently crossed `70 per litre, which is about `11 - `15 higher than the rates during the same time last year. However, many companies are demanding to operate the lorries based on the 2016 estimate. This has lead to many lorry owners closing down their businesses. If we demand more, the companies urge us to take excessive loads, beyond permitted limits, to make up for the loss. Following the implementation of GST, the insurance cost has also drastically increased leaving the lorry owners to face a dilemma whether to continue business or to close down.”
The association is considering to operate a few lorries to distributing Public Distribution Service and Noon-meal products for the welfare of the people, Joseph said. Currently, about 450 lorries under the TDLODO and other 7,000 to 10,000 lorries from other associations are participating in the indefinite strike seeking the government to control the diesel price hike by including it to GST. Proper actions must be taken against the industries, which force the lorry owners to take excess loads, he added. The effects of the lorry strike may be reflected in the markets in the coming days if the strike continues. All lorries have opted not to take loads till the government addresses their demands.
Don’t create confusion, says rival association
Namakkal: Even as the lorry strike called by the All India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners’ Association (AICGVOA) is into the second day on Tuesday, its rival, the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has accused the former of deceiving the people. While 20 to 30 per cent of trucks in the state are off roads, the State Lorry Owners’ Federation (SLOF) president M R Kumarasamy and secretary C Dhanraj have charged some lorry associations with creating confusion in the name of strike. “Those who do not even own a single lorry have announced the indefinite strike,” they said, appealing to the truckers to not believe them and run their vehicles as usual. The SLOF said it backs AIMTC that has announced a nationwide strike on July 20. “We will try to talk to the government and solve the problem,” they said.