The Hindu Business Line : ‘Govt open to talks with truckers’

New Delhi, Jan. 11 The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Secretary, Mr Brahm Dutt, on Sunday reiterated the Government stand on transporters’ strike that while the Government is open to discussing their problems, it will not allow a section of transporters to take the country to ransom.

Mr Dutt said local transporters’ associations have called off strike in many places including Pune (Maharashtra), Hasan (Karnataka), Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Gurgaon (Haryana). He added that the strike has affected inter-State movement of goods, especially industrial goods, to some extent but supply of essential and daily use items has not been affected. Arrangements have been made by the FCI and State governments to ensure that adequate quantities of wheat and rice are available in the fair price shops.

Giving details of alternative arrangements to deal with the strike if it continued further, Mr Dutt said about 15-20 lakh trucks would be arranged by the States to ensure movement of goods across the country. Meanwhile, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) called for the release of its top office bearers who have been arrested under ESMA.

“With arrest of President and other leaders, how can there be any talks,” Mr Gopal Naidu, Vice-President, AIMTC, stated in release.

AIMTC also stated, “The Chakka Jam is peaceful but the aggressive attitude of the Government could worsen the situation.”

According to transport research body, IFTRT, “On Sunday, the wholesale markets, agriculture produce mandis were closed on their weekly off. Hence fully-loaded trucks carrying fruits and vegetables shall be offloaded Monday morning.” It also pointed out that the Government is in vain trying to threaten the truckers, while the limited impact of the strike is only because the goods transport agents (GTAs) are keeping the cargo accepted by them from consignors in their godowns/warehouses and are not hiring trucks to deliver them at the agreed destination to the consignees. IFTRT pointed out that the Government can act against the truckers because they are registered with the transport department and their permits can be cancelled under the powers vested with it through the Central Motor Vehicles Act 1988, but the GTAs/transport intermediaries are not registered with the transport department and hence, the Centre and States are not in a position to take any action against the GTAs under the Motor Vehicles Act (MV Act).

One of the AIMTC demands is not to be registered under the Carriage by Road Act, 2007.

Related Stories:
Transporters to go ahead with strike as talks fail
Strike will continue, says AIMTC
AP Govt ready for talks with striking truckers

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