TRUCKERS STRIKE HITS VEGETABLE SUPPLIES

The ongoing nationwide strike of transporters has jacked up prices of essential commodities in Chandigarh. Prices of pulses, vegetables and fruits have spiraled and with the truckers strike showing no signs of ending soon, it is the common man who will suffer.Chandigarh's largest vegetable market has only small vendors coming in these days and they say that the truckers strike has made prices shoot up, which their customers are not willing to pay. They also blame the big players of hoarding vegetables."Prices of onion, tomato, ginger and peas have doubled up. Onion, we used to get from Nashik, is not coming," said Deshraj, a vendor at the grain market in Chandigarh."Many Aadhtis have made huge stocksof these goods and sell us on higher rates. That is the reason we have to sell it on higher rates to customers," said Ainal, vegetable vendor.

In Chandigarh vegetable prices are spiraling. For instance, price of onion has almost doubled since the truckers strike while ginger is up by a third. But for now, the truck operators are not giving up."We are saving money, so we are not plying our trucks. If government does not agree to our demands, this strike will last more than 15 days or even more," said Ram Lal, a truck operator.If the strike drags on for that long, vegetables may be out of reach for the common man