Ahmedabad, Apr 22: The nationwide transporters' strike, that has entered the second week, has taken a heavy toll on loading and unloading at the famous Alang Ship Breaking Yard in Bhavnagar district. The ship-breaking yard, which transports nearly 5,000 to 7,000 tonnes of steel "daily" all over the country is incurring losses of Rs 5 crore every day, since the truckers began their strike to press their 10-point charter of demands, including reduction in fuel prices, immunity from Value-Added Tax regime and abolition of toll tax
"The loading here has come to a grinding halt since the strike began and the shipbreaking yard is incurring a daily loss of Rs 5 crore nearly", an office-bearer of Gujarat Ship Breakers Association, Nitin Kanakia, told.

Kanakia feared that nearly 10,000 labourers working in the yard would be rendered jobless if the stir continues as the supply of cylinders containing the "cutting oxygen gas" has been severely affected.
"Nearly 55 ships are currently anchored in the yard but the breaking is going on at a snail's pace and if supply of oxygen cylinders is stalled, a large number of labourers will be rendered jobless", Kanakia added.
Apart from nearly 300 trucks that transport the steel from Alang daily, medium-sized vehicles and lorries have also joined the strike, sources said here.
Shipbreakers said the strike has dealt a double blow to them as global steel price have shown a downward trend. Bureau Report