New Delhi, Apr 15: Prices of fruits and vegetables soared in some states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on the second day of the nationwide indefinite strike by truckers demanding stable fuel prices and fewer levies. While small lorries and tempos filled up for striking trucks in most states, they couldn't check the surge in prices of fruits, vegetables and other essential commodities in some places. Maintaining that the stir had not affected supplies of essential commodities anywhere in the country, the government invited striking All India Motor Transport Congress for talks. AIMTC Secretary General J M Saksena said a solution may emerge in a day or two with the minister for road transport and highways B C Khanduri returning to the capital tomorrow.

In Andhra Pradesh, prices of potato, onion and tomato went up by as much as 50 per cent in some places, prompting the state government to take steps to ensure availability of petroleum and other essential commodities.


However, the strike call had no impact in Bihar, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim and Manipur. "Essential commodities were adequately available and till now there has been no escalation in prices," said ministry's status report.


Inter-state movement of trucks was badly affected all over the country impacting regions, especially in the south, which lived on supplies from other states.


Vegetable prices also surged in Mumbai, where transporters are on strike for last 15-days in protest against a High Court order for scrapping of old vehicles.
Bureau Report