Trucker's strike enters seventh day

NEW DELHI: While trucker's strike entered seventh day on Sunday the government claimed that local supplies have improved with truckers resuming services in many areas. "Trucks have started plying in various parts of the country including Mumbai, Pune, Vijaywada, Hasan and Jaipur among others. Situation is improving in other parts," Transport Secretary Brahm Dutt told reporters.

But Mr Dutt accepted that inter-state movement of goods as well as transportation of industrial products is affected while locally the goods are being carried. According to the All India Transporters Welfare Association, the association that has called for strike, "the strike is nationwide and complete."

Government is planning to evoke ESMA in other states if strike is not called off. Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Goa and Madhya Pradesh had invoked ESMA earlier in the week to tackle the truckers strike.Meanwhile, Haryana invoked Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA), becoming the eighth state so far to implement the step to deal with the strike.