Truckers on Strike: Govt to hold talks today
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Thiruvananthapuram: Truckers' strike, seeking quick vehicle clearance at Walayar check post in Kerala, Monday continued for the sixth consecutive day, badly hitting cargo movement.
The state government has called for a meeting to resolve the issue today.
State Finance Minister KM Mani said demands raised by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) were being considered by the Kerala government.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will be present during the talks.
Meanwhile, the AIMTC representatives said that their demands were not new. "It is known to the Kerala government as we had held a similar strike in 2013 July," said National Managing Committee member, NP Velu.
If only the state government had carried out whatever it had committed to do in 2013 like a green channel, ten counters at check post, the situation would not have come to such a pass, he said.
Truckers association in other parts of Tamil Nadu like Namakkal and Salem vehicles destined to Kerala via Walayar were asked not to stop the vehicle at the border.
Sales tax authorities of Kerala take a minimum of ten hours to a maximum of fifteen hours to clear a single truck at Walayar, AIMTC had said.
Increasing counters at the Walayar check post at Kerala from three to ten, installing scanning machines, a green channel for goods like steel and cement, parking lot, basic amenities like drinking water and toilets are the major demands.
The trucks carry a variety of consignments ranging from vegetables, textile and electronics across Walayar, the gateway to Kerala, everyday.
