Over 1.5 lakh Odisha truckers join nationwide strike

As part of the nationwide indefinite strike called by All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), over 1.5 lakh trucks remained off the roads today.
Besides the AIMTC's demand of scrapping the toll system and one-time payment of taxes, the truck owners of Odisha opposed the state government's proposed green tax on them.
Around 1.7 lakh trucks from Odisha joined the strike, however, essential commodities and perishable goods like milk, vegetables and medicine have been kept off the purview of the strike.
"As the NDA government has increased the number of toll gates, we are facing problems like unnecessary burning of fuel due to standing at queues and causing pollution," said Odisha Truck Owners' Federation general secretary Rabinarayan Satpathy.

"The transport agencies are not generating TDS certificates in time as a result of which, we are facing difficulties in claims. We demand abolition of the TDS system," another member demanded.
On the proposed green tax by the Odisha government, the truckers' body said Bhubaneswar does not have a parking lot for trucks.
"We often face problems from the police regarding parking of vehicles. We demand a separate parking lot for trucks in the capital city," a member of the association added.