The Hindu Business Line : Kerala Govt gearing to tackle lorry strike

At a standstill: CONTAINER LORRIES parked in Wellingdon Island, Kochi, following the indefinite strike called in the State by goods carriers. The strike is in protest against the imposition of speed governors. The supply of essential commodities and fuel is likely to be affected in the State in the coming days. -- H. Vibhu

Thiruvananthapuram April 1 The Kerala Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Mr C. Divakaran, has said that the administration has taken all steps to ensure that the indefinite strike by lorry operators from Saturday midnight would not hit supply lines for essential commodities.

The strike has been called in protest against a State Government move to enforce a Supreme Court directive that requires heavy vehicles to retrofit speed governors by April 15. The fleet operators are also demanding a roll back in the motor vehicle tax as well as restoration of services to lorry owners through Regional Transport Offices.

Moral support

Lorry owners association in neighbouring Tamil Nadu has also extended moral support and agreed not to operate services into Kerala. This had effectively threatened to break up the supply lines into the State, which depends heavily on its neighbours for its essential items. The State Civil Supplies Corporation holds one month's buffer stock of essentials and ration, the Minister said.

On Sunday, border check-posts have been witnessing long queues of lorries, laden to various capacities at these points along the length of the State, but terminal markets seemed not to have been bothered in view of the weekend and Sunday holiday.

According to traders, the current stocks should be sufficient to see through the next week or so. But this need not be the case with petroleum fuel and LPG.

The pinch would slowly start to feel unless the Government intervenes and arranges for alternative means of ferrying in replenishments, about which the Minister gave broad hints.

Supply lines

Government-owned fleet would be made available as and when necessary to keep open the supply lines. Even private traders are free to avail themselves of this service. District Collectors have been authorised to confiscate carriers and operate services in times of contingency.

The Minister further said that as on Sunday, the movement of essential goods across the State had not been hit in any conceivable manner. No shortage of vegetables or milk had been reported from anywhere. A monitoring cell has been set up at the State-level to keep a tab on the movement of supplies.

District Supply Officers and Taluk Supply Officers have been directed to be alert and coordinate with District Collectors to take steps to meet an emergency. The public need not unduly worry about the strike, which would be dealt with strongly if it persists, the Minister said.

Mr Divakaran demanded that the Centre come out with a comprehensive food policy if only to pre-empt hoarding tendencies that could drive up wheat prices.

The extant policy allows multi-national monopolies to procure wheat without limit, which could sound the death knell for public distribution system in the State and force a price spiral. The Food Corporation of India should, as has been the practice, be allowed to procure the grain to feed the public distribution system.

The Minister recalled that the procurement target of 161 lakh tonnes could not be met last year, mainly on account of a parallel drive by private monopolies. Only 92 lakh tonnes could be procured in the end.

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