Lorry strike enters 3rd day, Govt takes alternative measures

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 2 (UNI) The indefinite strike by lorry and bus operators in Kerala entered the third day today even as the state government took alternative steps to ensure supply of petroleum products and essential commodities, including vegetables.

Kerala Road Transport Minister Mathew T Thomas told newspersons here the government had given orders for issuing temporary permits and would provide security to vehicles that plied on the roads.

Vehicles had started to run at Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Kasargode as some organisations had withdrawn from the strike, he said.

Mr Thomas said the government would take necessary legal action if the agitators continued with their strike, which was against the people.

Regarding the distribution of petrol, he said all the filling stations in the state had adequate quantity. On reports of protesters blocking the lorries at the check posts, he said necessary action had been taken in this matter.

There was also a scarcity of aviation fuel at the International airport at Kochi and Kozhikode, and now there was no need for any anxiety as adequate fuel had been distributed to these Airports.

He pointed out that the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation would be putting into service about 400 buses that had been in the garages for want of spare parts in the next two days with the overnment sanctioning Rs five crore to the corporation for buying spare parts.

Calling the strike +unnecessary+, he said the protesters themselves knew that the government could do nothing in this regard as it was a Supreme Court order directing that all heavy vehicles should be fitted with speed governors. The government was also trying for an ordinance against the SC order as it had been made compulsory in Kerala only, he added.

He also said about 250 vehicles had been requisitioned till now.

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