Lorry strike enters fifth day; DC may invoke ESMA

The strike by truckers across the southern States entered the fifth day this morning amidst fears of shortage of food and other essential supplies. Except for milk, water, medicines, vegetables, fruits, petrol and diesel, transportation of all other goods into city including food grains and pulses have stopped. To avoid a crisis situation, the District Administration is preparing itself to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against striking lorry owners.

Transporters across south India began their strike from the midnight of Mar. 30 following a call given by South India Motor Transport Association (SIMTA) to press for their demands including withdrawal of increase in the premium for third-party insurance, hike in penalty and toll fee. More than 5 lakh trucks are off the roads, crippling the movement of goods.

Hundreds of trucks remained parked in and around the city and outskirts including the truck terminal at Bandipalya, Bannimantap Railway Goods Shed and at the Old RMC yard. In Mysuru, there are over 2,200 trucks with an equal number of drivers and cleaners, 3,000 loaders, 1,500 lorry owners and over 3,000 labourers. “All of them are jobless now,” said B. Revanna, President of Mysuru City Local Lorry Owner’s Association.

“A meeting has been called tomorrow in Bengaluru where representatives from our association and transport ministry will meet and discuss some of the demands at the State level. All depends on the outcome of the meeting,” he told Star of Mysore and added that the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) was also taking steps to address the insurance-related issues.

Trucks carrying goods to Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Yard and other markets at Santhepet, Shivarampet, Bandipalya and Old RMC have stopped operations and this is likely to push up prices. Local truckers supply food grains, pulses, oil, sugar, chillies, tamarind and other items to markets.

Initially there was enough stock in the APMC Yard that has over 1,500 shops. “But now we are facing a shortfall and the problem will aggravate if the strike continues. Business has affected seriously and per day we are losing a turnover of Rs. 10 crore,” said APMC Traders Association President S. Prakash.

Building contractor Babu said that the strike has affected the construction industry too. “Prices of M-Sand have gone up from Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 1,800 per load and there is a huge shortage of bricks and cement. The situation will be worse if the strike continues,” he said.

The truckers stir has also affected the supply of tender coconuts to Mysuru. The number of traders purchasing tender coconuts has come down and there are no trucks available to transport them from Nanjangud, Mandya, Malavalli and surrounding areas, said traders.

DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION PREPARED

The District Administration is preparing to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance  Act (ESMA) against the lorry owners and is awaiting a green signal from the State Government. “We will wait and watch till today evening and will observe the government-level discussion. Depending on the outcome of talks and the situation, we will invoke ESMA,” Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep told Star of Mysore.  

Petroleum Distributors Association is extending moral support to the striking truckers. Association President S.K. Dinesh said that there won’t be immediate stoppage of petroleum supplies. “We will wait for one or two days and then decide,” he said. Supply of LPG will not be affected in the city as it is supplied from Mangaluru through