The Hindu Business Line : Mangalore goods transport union to join all-India strike

THE Mangalore Goods Transport Association has decided to join the nationwide indefinite strike of road transport operators, called by the All-India Motor Transport Congress, the Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners and Agents Association and the Karnataka Goods Transporters Association.

The President of the Mangalore Goods Transport Association, Mr Manohar S. Narvekar, told newspersons here on Tuesday that the indefinite strike would begin on August 21.

He said the policy of the Union Government in imposing 10 per cent Central service tax and another 2 per cent cess on service tax would affect the transportation of goods by road.

"Though the Government claims to have exempted the truck owners and operators from the purview of this tax, one of the members of the Central Board of Custom and Excise has confirmed that as and when a lorry receipt (LR) is issued, the person concerned is liable to pay tax irrespective of whether he is the owner of goods booking company or a truck," he said, adding that nearly 80 per cent of the truck owners, who are doing business in their own name, will automatically come under the purview of this tax.