Transporters’ strike: Prices of vegetables, fruits go up
LUCKNOW: Prices of perishable products, especially vegetables and fruits, have started rising in the state, as the nationwide transports’ strike entered its second day on Saturday.
The strike call was given by the All India Motor Transport Congress that demanded lower diesel prices and reduction in toll charges among various other demands.
In the state capital, vegetable vendors in different localities raised the per kilo rates by about ₹5 on Saturday morning, citing supply issues.
As Lucknow gets most of its vegetables from adjoining districts, the strike, which includes big, medium and small goods carriers, has impacted the supply chain here.
“Quantity of vegetables grown in Lucknow is meagre. The rest come from Hardoi, Barabanki, Sitapur and Bahraich,” said a vendor at the Bhootnath vegetable market.
Traders said if the strike continued for a few more days, prices of other vegetables and crops, which have been in steady supply so far, will also be hit due to scarcity in markets.
“One of the trucks I booked for transporting tomatoes has reached close to Lucknow. The driver assured me that he would off-load the stock. However, the other two trucks that are far away from Lucknow are still standing,” said Arif, a trader who supplies vegetables and food grains from MP, Karnataka and Maharashtra to Lucknow.
He said ladyfinger, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, oranges, apples and other fruits and vegetables could soon be in short supply. “Trucks loaded with vegetables are just standing. The supply will be hit hard if the strike does not end in a day. If it continues, this stock will rot. The fresh stock will take even longer to reach the markets,” he said.
Meanwhile, transporters said that talks with central government had failed. They threatened to continue the stir if the government did not check the increase in diesel prices and other “unwarranted expenses” imposed upon transporters.
About 10,000 trucks are parked at various places in the state capital. Goods worth over ₹250 crore are waiting to be off-loaded in Lucknow.
If the strike continues for long, supply of electronic items, cement, sand, textiles, toiletries, packed food and various other products will be impacted.