Lorry strike total in Kerala

Kochi, Apr 1 (UNI) The lorry movement in Kerala remained paralysed today as the lorry strike, which began at midnight, was total in the State.

P Ramachandran, Chairman of the Coordination Committee of the Lorry Owners told UNI that around 1,20,000 heavy vehicles, except buses, kept off the roads in protest against the ten per cent hike in Motor Vehicle Tax(MVT) and to demand restoration of services to lorries through the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs).

Mr Ramachandran said the Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Association also extended support to the strike.

The Committee decided to go ahead with the indefinite strike call after talks with State Transport Minister Mathew T Thomas failed last night.

Meanwhile, Ernakulam District Collector Mohammed Haneesh issued a notice to the lorry owners to call off the strike and resume services immediately.

Mr Haneesh said if the striking owners did not give heed to the notice, action would be taken against them, including impounding of vehicles, after consultations with the Government.

UNI