Odisha government spoke to the agitating drivers, assured to consider their demands

The Drivers Union indicated to cooperate and consider the assurance after the meeting but till the last reports come, no formal information has been given to call off the strike.

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oi-Foziya Khan

Updated: Friday, March 17, 2023, 20:26 [IST]

The Odisha government has taken an important step amid the strike by the drivers to hold talks with the agitators and find a solution to the issue. Significantly, the movement of essential commodities and fuel was being affected as the drivers’ strike entered the second day on Thursday.

Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena called a meeting with a delegation of Driver Ekta Mahamanch in the presence of senior officials and assured the association that the government is actively considering their demands and will resolve the pending issues appropriately within three months .

At the same time, the Drivers Union indicated to cooperate and consider the assurance after the meeting, but has not given any formal notice to withdraw the strike till the final report comes. Meanwhile, movement and supply of essential commodities, vegetables, fuel and gas remained severely affected in Odisha for the second consecutive day due to the strike. Sources said that over 400 trucks loaded with perishable food items including vegetables, fish and eggs are stranded at various places.

Due to non-availability of fresh vegetables and fruits, there has been a shortage in many vegetable markets, including Chhatra Bazar in Cuttack, the state’s largest vegetable and fruit wholesale market. Same is the case with Aegina which caters to the demands of Unit-I market and state capital.

Sources said that more than 300 trucks daily transport vegetables, fruits and other essential items from outside states to Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Rourkela and Balasore. Though some vehicles carrying vegetables and fruits had reached on Tuesday night, but since Wednesday, movement both within and outside the state has stopped.