Kochi:
As the truckers' strike entered the sixth day today, vegetable
dealers are using all alternative methods, including luxury
coaches, tempo vans and even taxis, to transport essential
commodities.
An
acute shortage of vegetables, fruits and bananas is being
felt throughout the country and the prices of these commodities
continue to soar. With talks in New Delhi to find a solution
to the truckers' demand failing, the situation is likely
to worsen in the coming days.
The
Kerala state government is also in the dock for not taking
any steps to ensure the free passage of essential commodities
to Kerala. This is in stark contrast to the measures taken
by the Tamil Nadu government which allowed the TN Transport
Corporation buses to carry the goods so that farmers do
not suffer due to the strike, besides ensuring easy availability
of essential commodities.
There
is also a collapse of the wholesale market in the state
as the three to four loads of vegetables that reach the
main markets are not even adequate for retail sales. "The
wholesale market for vegetables and bananas no longer
exists. The supply of fruits has stopped altogether,"
says Mohammed Sharief, youth wing president of the Ernakulam
Stall Owners' Association.
Sharief
alleges that police officials manning the border are forcing
the dealers to pay Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per vehicle as
fee to allow the passenger vehicles into the state.
"We are already paying a fortune as rent to transport
vegetables to Kerala. Rather than allowing a free passage
of goods to Kerala, police officials are trying to make
some extra bucks."
The
dealers say they are bringing the goods taking the risks
of attack from goons allegedly employed by the truckers.
Some tempos and mini-vans were blocked in Karnataka. The
prices of vegetables brought from outside are: green chillies
Rs 25 (Rs 8 before the stir), ladies finger Rs 20 (Rs
7), beans Rs 24 (Rs 13), beetroot Rs 16 (Rs 8) and tomato
Rs 25 (Rs 14). These are set to rise further.
Fruits
markets are depending on fruits like pineapple and mangoes
supplied locally and there has been a complete shortage
of grapes, oranges and apples. In the vegetable market,
even the prices of locally grown bitter gourd, ash pumpkin
and cucumber are rising.
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