The Hindu Business Line : Traders' plea to end transport strike

The Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the present strike is beginning to affect the prices of essential commodities, which would put the common man in the State to greater difficulties.

At a time when we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the State's formation, it is most unfortunate that we are faced with such a crisis that is bound to affect the economic growth and image of the State, Mr Eapen Kalapurackal, Secretary of the Chamber, said.

Chamber plea

The Chamber has urged the Chief Minister to effectively intervene in the matter and restore normalcy at the earliest.

The ongoing strike, he said, has affected the operations of the Kochi port, resulting in total stoppage of container movements. This will throw shipping schedules and consignment delivery arrangements into total disarray. This is will further more result in the loss of renewed orders, he said.

The Chamber pointed out that frequent strikes and hartals would seriously undermine the efforts being made by the port to project itself as the premier port of southern India.

An unfortunate outcome of this situation is that shipping agents are already planning to divert consignments to neighbouring ports, he added.

Mr K. Retnan, President, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the strike had crippled the tea industry due to the stoppage of movement of auctioned teas. The construction activities have also been adversely affected as movement of materials is impossible.

If the strike is allowed to continue, it will lead to severe financial strain to the business community as well as the agriculture sector, he added.

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