Lorry owners stir likely to cause Rs 1,500 cr revenue loss

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Press Trust of India Chennai
Last Updated : Mar 30 2017 | 7:33 PM IST
: The indefinite strike by lorry owners, which began today, is likely to hit business to the tune of nearly Rs 1,500 crore in the state, office-bearers of Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Federation said.
The Federation representatives said the stir would continue as discussions with the government pressing for various demands had failed.
"As of now the strike is on. We expect the loss of revenue to be around Rs 1,500 crore as lorries stayed off roads," Federation president Kumaraswamy said here.
He was talking to reporters at the Secretariat after holding discussions with State Trasnport Minister M R Vijayabhaskar.
"The strike is on in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Puducherry," he said.
"We have several demands and the major one is withdrawal of VAT announced recently by the Tamil Nadu government," he said.

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In Erode and Namakkal districts, home for several lorry owners, transporting goods and other essential services to neighbouring states, nearly 5,000 lorries did not operate due to the strike.
Referring to the strike, Koyambedu Vegetable Market Vendors Association vice-president, Chandran said supply of vegetables was likely to be affected by nearly 50 per cent.
"Small trucks which bring vegetables from nearby locations may operate. But we fear that lorries coming from other states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka will stop. We expect that nearly 50 per cent of supply may get affected due to the strike," he told PTI.
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Meanwhile, in response to the call by South India Lorry Owners Association for an indefinite strike, over 14,000 lorries remained off the roads in Coimbatore, Tirupur and Nilgiris districts, affecting business to the tune of over Rs.150 crore.
In Coimbatore district, about 4,500 lorries didn't operate, causing an estimated loss of Rs.75 crore in inter-state business, Coimbatore Lorry Owners Association president Kaliyaperumal said.
In Tirupur, some 8,000 lorries were off the roads, affecting transport of knitwear items and fabrics from nearby Palladam.
Around 1,500 lorries didn't ply in Nilgiris district, from where tea is sent to other states.
Parcel bookings were stopped three days ago by booking agents to express solidarity with the striking lorry owners.

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First Published: Mar 30 2017 | 7:33 PM IST

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