Trucks parked on the premises of Ganjam Truck Owners’ Association in Aska because of the ongoing strike in the neighbouring states. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Aug. 23: An indefinite strike by truck operators has triggered a sharp rise in the prices of vegetables as produce from some southern states has been badly hit.

Truck operators, owing allegiance to the All India Motor Transport Congress, have been on an indefinite strike in six states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, and Maharashtra, from August 18 midnight. They have been protesting against high toll tax and non-fulfilment of various long-pending demands.

The rates of some vegetables, including cabbage, tomato, cauliflower, capsicum, drumstick, and brinjal, have soared considerably following an alleged short supply because of the transporters’ strike.

“While cabbage, tomato, cauliflower, and capsicum come from Bangalore, drumstick, brinjal and lemon are brought from Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, Onion comes from Pune and Nasik in Maharashtra and also from Andhra Pradesh. Potato and carrot comes from Bengal,” said Rabindranath Patra, a vegetable vendor, who has been in the business for the last 35 years.

Kalia Panda, another vegetable vendor of Mardarajpur vending zone in front of MKCG Medical College and Hospital, said: “We have to feel the pinch though there is no truck operators’ strike in Orissa. Here, the damage percentage of various vegetables, mostly tomatoes, has crossed almost 25 now. Earlier, the damage percentage was 2 to 5, which was negligible. As damage percentage has risen, the prices of these vegetables have also started soaring alarmingly in the last five days.”

The rate of cabbage, which was Rs 12 per kilogram five days ago in the city, has now soared to Rs 20 per kg. Similarly, the rate of tomato has jumped to Rs 24 from Rs 12 in the last five days. Cauliflower, which was earlier being sold at Rs 25 per kg, has now crossed the mark of Rs 40 per kg. The rate of capsicum, which was Rs 40 five days ago, has now reached Rs 60.

“These vegetables usually come from other states to Berhampur. About 25 truck load of vegetables come to Berhampur daily,” said Patra. Similarly, the rate of onion, which comes from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, has now soared to Rs 20 a kg from Rs 14 five days ago.