Truckers' stir bleeds traders in TN

The indefinite strike by the truckers' entered seventh day today continuing to affect movement of goods across Tamil Nadu prompting various industry bodies to seek Centre's intervention to end the stir.

Even as industry and the trade expressed concern over the situation citing piling up of products and commodities, the striking lorry owners said they would continue the stir till the government addressed their demands.

"We are continuing the strike. We want the government to look into our demands," Tamil Nadu State Lorry Owners' Federation, Secretary, C Dhanaraj told PTI.

To a query, he said leaders of All India Motor Transport Congress are holding discussions in New Delhi to decide on the next course of action.

Federation of Indian Exports Organisation, Regional Chairman, A Sakthivel said over Rs 5,000 crore worth of goods was lying in factories pending for dispatch and urged Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to take steps to end the strike.

"Export was in the path of revival due to various initiatives taken by the Centre. Due to present market conditions, the buyers are ordering just delivery and even a two-day delay will result in losing business," he said.

Due to uncertainity over the lorry strike, several factories in the State are on the verge of declaring layoffs which would affect export earnings, he said.

At the wholesale Koyambedu vegetable market here, supply of vegetables remained "limited" as traders transported the goods from various parts of the city.

Meanwhile, a report from Coimbatore said textile goods worth several crores from neighbouring Tirupur, considered as a 'textile hub' were lying at manufacturing units due to the lorry strike.

Tirupur Exporters' Association, President, Raja M Shanmugham sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention on the issue saying textile exporting units were largely affected as they could not transport the finished garments.

"The cascading effect would be severe on the exporting units and the delay in settling the issue would derail the exports and affect entire textile industry," he said.

South India Small Spinners Association, President, S K Rangarajan said 25,000 tonnes of yarn valued at Rs 550 crore were lying in godowns due to the strike.

Following the non-arrival of lorries from neighbouring states, the traders were not getting the necessary raw materials, he claimed.

A report from Erode said due to the lorry strike power loom owners were affected as stock were lying at the factories as they could not dispatch to the customers.