Trucks laden with goods stranded on the highway in Balasore.

The Odisha State Truck Owners' Federation has gone on strike to demand the withdrawal of green tax on vehicles more than 15 years old. Around two lakh trucks and nearly 1,300 transport companies across the state have joined the strike.

The strike has been supported by the All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), the apex transporters' body. The state transport secretary had announced that a green tax would be imposed on vehicles older than 15 years as they cause damage to life and property. The AIMTC began a nationwide truck strike on October 1 to press for the removal of tollgates.

Telegraph picture