Truckers' strike fails to impact supplies

The flash strike launched by transporters, to protest the Mumbai High Court ruling banning the entry of trucks more than eight-year-old from Mumbai limits, marginally impacted supply of essentials into the city.

According to Maharashtra's transport secretary Rajeev Sinha: "The transport strike has not impacted supplies coming into Mumbai city, and barring a few centres most regions received near normal supplies."

He added that 17.5 lakh litres of milk, 469 truckloads of vegetables, 273 truckloads of fruits and over 100 oil tankers (which was short by 99 tankers of regular supply) had ensured few disruptions in supplies coming into Mumbai city.

The state has also permitted state transport corporation buses to allow the transport of perishable and other commodities into the city as an added measure to maintain stocks.

Sinha admitted that some stray incidents of stone throwing were reported in the city while adding that the city police department had booked 15 persons in this regard.

He also said the strike call was illegal and amounted to contempt of court. Action is likely against the striking transporters, who may be booked under a cognisable offence.

He said the state is geared up to meet any situation created by the continued strike by truckers, which includes police escorts for trucks travelling into Mumbai city with provisions from their point of departure in interior parts of Maharashtra to the various wholesale markets in and around Mumbai.