Truckers on strike, prices set to soar

PUNE, July 1: Even as the district authorities have made elaborate arrangements to tackle the transporters' strike against the toll tax i...

PUNE, July 1: Even as the district authorities have made elaborate arrangements to tackle the transporters’ strike against the toll tax in the State, the agitation which began at midnight, is likely to send the prices soaring.

The Statewide strike is slated to hit supplies of essential commodities to the city and its surrounding areas. With supply of milk, vegetables and other essential commodities likely to be affected, a sharp price rise is being predicted.

In the meantime supply of petrol to the city could also be affected due to the strike. According to Ashok Dikshit, president of the Pune Petrol Dealers Association, “If the private oil tankers join in the strike then petrol supply could also be affected as they carry the bulk of the petrol to the city.” But he also cautioned that there was no immediate cause to worry because the participation of tankers in the strike was yet to be confirmed.

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According to Vilas Bhujbal, president, Shri Chhattrapati Shivaji Market Yard Adte Association, alternate arrangements are being made to deal with the strike. “We have arranged for jeeps and tractors to bring in vegetables but prices could go up by 50 per cent from Monday morning,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Pune Truck, Tempo and Tankers Association has declared that heavy vehicles carrying essential commodities fall within the purview of the strike and their supply would therefore be affected. “Since the tankers are also participating even oil supply could be affected,” said a spokesman of the association.

District Collector Vijaykumar Gautum has called a meeting on Monday morning to discuss measures to deal with the strike. To prevent any untoward incident, the city police has also deployed additional men among the various police stations. The Adte Association had approached the city police to provide adequate protection for the wholesale vegetable buyers and have been promised adequate security arrangements.

According to assistant commissioner of police (Admin) Anant Rokade, the police had made arrangements to deal with any contingency. “We have alerted all police stations and provided extra personnel so that supply of essential commodities like milk are not disrupted.”

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On Sunday afternoon Market Yard saw an increase of supply trucks to ensure that vegetable sellers were well-stocked before the strike came into force. Almost 250 vegetable-laden trucks were reported to have delivered goods to the city. The transporters’ association has however given an assurance that company buses and school buses would not be included in the strike.