Kerala stir: Over 100 lorries seized

With the indefinite strike of truck and lorry operators in Kerala entering the third day on Tuesday, authorities in various districts in the state have seized around hundred lorries.

The state government has announced police protection to the lorries arriving with goods from other states. A message to this effect has been communicated to the chief secretaries in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

District collectors across the state have been directed to ensure that lorries laden with essential items be provided with adequate police protection right from the border check-posts to their various destinations in the state.

Truck operators in Kerala are on an indefinite strike in protest against the state government's move to make speed governors mandatory for heavy vehicles. They also demand a roll-back in the motor vehicle tax.

In view of the strike, the state government is taking measures to prevent disruption in the supply of LPG, petrol, diesel, milk and other essential commodities.

The government also plans to take stern action against truck drivers who have abandoned trucks laden with LPG cylinders on roadsides. The state administration has also initiated measures to take these vehicles to their respective destinations by deploying new drivers.

Food and civil supplies minister C Divakaran and transport minister Mathew T Thomas, who addressed the media after an official high-level meet late last evening, said the department of agriculture would be approached to hire vehicles belonging to the Horticorp to transport vegetables and fruits from different places to various destinations.

The meeting also mulled deployment of KSRTC buses to transport essential goods in case the stir goes on indefinitely, they said.

Adding that no one will be allowed to hold the state's public distribution mechanism to ransom, the food and civil supplies minister said outlets run by the Civil Supplies Corporation would be asked to remain open throughout the week.

The transport minister has hinted at invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in the state.