As the protests against the Agnipath scheme continue to rage, thousands of trucks from the state carrying perishable items are stranded in various parts of the country.
Truckers under the Federation of West Bengal Truck Operators’ Association (FWBTOA) and All India Motor Transport Congress are said to be facing huge losses as numerous trucks are stranded in different corners of the country with perishable items. The FWBTOA has about six lakh operators working under it. According to the representatives of the operators’ organisation, around 40 per cent trucks carrying the perishable items are stranded in states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and so on. A large number of trucks that are stuck due to the ongoing protests against the Centre’s Agnipath scheme are carrying fish, egg, onion and sugar,” said the general secretary of FWBTOA, Sajal Ghosh. “A considerable number of vehicles even have perishable items like fruits,” he added.
According to the members of the two organisations, the protests in the form of road blockades, government and private properties like trains and goods carrying vehicles with essential commodities including medicines, food and other perishable items are being destroyed. Such destruction is bringing huge losses to the truck operators. The truck operators of West Bengal Truck Operators’ Association and All India Motor Transport Congress have, therefore, written to the Union ministry of road transport and highways seeking necessary legal and administrative steps to enable smooth plying of trucks in the country.