The Hindu Business Line : Truckers begin strike

Trucks off the roads in the Capital on Monday protesting against the policies of the Central and State Governments. Truckers claim that the frequent hikes in prices of diesel as well the decision to levy toll tax and VAT have made their operations unviable.

NEW DELHI, April 14

TRANSPORTERS under the banner of the All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) began an indefinite strike on Monday to press their 10-point charter of demands.

Mr J.M. Saxena, Secretary-General, AIMTC, claimed that the strike was a total success with truckers staying off the roads. "All bookings and delivery have been stopped," he added.

But the response to the truckers' strike call has been mixed according to information available.

"No untoward incident has been reported so far. All States have informed that the availability of essential commodities has not been affected," a statement from the Road Transport & Highways Ministry said.

Mr Saxena said that the impact would be felt in the coming days as the strike progresses. "Transporters and truckers are the backbone of the economy. To that extent, there will be a cascading effect on the economy."

He also said that the AIMTC had sought a meeting with the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Mr B.C. Khanduri, for resolution of their demands and a response was awaited. The Minister is away in Uttaranchal on holiday.

Mr Ashoke Joshi, Secretary, Road Transport & Highways, said that no talks were scheduled with the agitating truckers.

The Ministry had met the representatives from the AIMTC on April 7 and April 11, during which the steps initiated by the Government on issues raised by the transporters were communicated.

``We have already assured them that the Union Government was doing its bit to check over-loading. As far as their complaints about insurance companies, any specific complaint would be redressed," he said.

"Besides, the Petroleum Ministry has assured us that it is willing to consider diesel price revision once in three months instead of the current practice of fortnightly revision subject to a variation not exceeding 0.25 paise.''

The Road Transport Ministry statement said that a draft Bill to replace the Carriers Act, 1865 is already on the anvil.

Besides, the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) has said that it is attending to complaints regarding excess loading of third-party premiums by insurance companies.

The DEA has also agreed to investigate specific complaints of violation of IRDA guidelines by public sector insurance companies on third-party insurance and assured of appropriate action against those found guilty of such violations.

The Ministry has informed the States that have allegedly legalised over-loading through issue of special tokens/passes that such action was against the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

"The States have been told that if such a system is continued, the release of grants under the Central Road Fund Scheme could be denied to them by the Central Government."

In Delhi, the State Government has invoked the Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the striking truckers.

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Truckers begin strike