Talks between striking truckers, IRDA officials fail

A marathon meeting between striking truckers and officials of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) of India in Hyderabad failed to arrive at any solution on Friday.

In a statement, the All India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners’ Association said truckers would go on a nation-wide strike from on Saturday midnight as the second round of talks with IRDA failed.

K G Ravindra, Chairman (Passenger Sector) of All India Motor Transport Congress, said there is yet another round of talks scheduled on Saturday following which the final decision will be taken on nation-wide strike.

Various associations in five states and one Union Territory in the south zone are demanding the IRDA to roll back the hikes in third-party insurance premium. Some in Karnataka have urged the state government not to collect toll in 19 state highways. The protest may lead to glitches in the supply of essential commodities, including vegetable, petroleum products and LPG.

According to South Zone Motor Transporters’ Welfare Association, the strike which would be effective from Saturday midnight will hit supply of fuel. “People can anticipate shortage of petrol from Monday onwards,” said G R Shanmugappa, chief secretary, South Zone Motor Transporters’ Welfare Association.