Darjeeling, April 24: Essential services in the hills are likely to be hit hard with Darjeeling Truck Drivers? Association deciding to go ahead with its six-day strike starting tomorrow.

The association has been demanding the eviction of encroachers from the truck terminus in Dagapur in Siliguri. Transfer of lease of the particular plot of land from the owners? association to the truckers? constitute the other demand of the association.

Ganesh Pradhan, the general secretary of the drivers? association, had earlier alleged that since the owners had done little to improve the infrastructure of the terminus, the demand for the transfer of the one-acre plot was justified.

Though district officials had earlier this month ? when the drivers had called a three-day strike for the same reasons ? agreed to evict the encroachers, they now maintain that the task may take some time.

?Since the land belongs to the PWD, a survey is being conducted to identify the squatters,? said an official.

Mamanchand Agrawal, the general secretary of Darjeeling District Truck Owners? Association, however, maintained that if the administrators evicted the encroachers immediately, the demand for the lease transfer could be settled. ?The transfer issue is secondary. Once the encroachers are removed, we will provide the drivers with all amenities,? said Agrawal.

Despite the owners? assurance, however, the hills, already reeling from a severe water crisis, is bracing itself for the strike.

The tea industry, which had to undergo much hardship during the three-day strike earlier this month, will be affected the most.

?The industry will find it hard to replace shortfall in coal supply if the strike takes place. It will not be able to provide foodgrain to the workers and there will also be a delay in transporting tea to scheduled destinations,? said Sanjeev Seth, the secretary, Darjeeling Planters? Association.

Tourism, too, will be hit hard. Most hotels in the town have to depend upon trucks to ferry drinking water. ?We cannot stop our customers from using water. They will not understand our problem,? said Dinesh Sharma, the general manager of Fortune Resort Central.