Friday July 4, 2008

Bhopal     Madhya Pradesh     Nation     Sports     Editorial     Astro     Business    


 
Search
Google   
News
World
Columnists
Opinion
Letters
Open Forum
Cartoon
Stock
Weather
Today's Picture
Classified
Matrimonial
Archives
 Home>>>Nation 

Truckers' strike enters 2nd day 

Agencies

New Delhi, July 3: The ongoing truckers' strike to protest increased highway toll tax and duty structure on diesel entered its second day on Thursday, crippling movement of goods in various parts of the country.

"We are continuing the strike and we will continue till there is any favourable response from the government," AIMTC President Charan Singh Lohara said.

The apex body of truckers - All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), has claimed that the strike on the first day had an overall impact of about 85 per cent in halting the movement of goods carrier.

The Transport Ministry officials, however, said the impact in the first day was much less and it was about 10 per cent to 35 per cent depending upon different areas.

AIMTC, the apex body of transporters that claims to represent nearly 4.8 million truck and two million tempo operators, is demanding roll-back of hike in toll tax, honouring of service tax agreement of 2004, removal of speed governors on highways and rationalisation of duty on diesel.

Meanwhile, separately, the Petroleum Ministry had assured on Wednesday that unbranded diesel would be made available to truckers at normal rates. In his meeting with AIMTC on Wednesday, Transport Minister T R Baalu had said that rolling back the hike in toll tax would not be possible as the increase was effected through an act of Parliament.

On the first day, the agitators met twice the Transport Ministry officials, besides holding discussions with the Finance Ministry. The talks, however, remained inconclusive and the truckers decided to continue the strike.

The mass protest on Wednesday had crippled industrial activity in many parts of the country, although transporters maintained supply of essentials like fuel.

 

 
Print This Page         Mail This Story
 
 


 

 

About us Contact us Terms & Conditions Advertisements

Asia News  © Central Chronicle 2007.  India News