Date:08/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/08/stories/2009010858920300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Trail of scarcity scare

Staff Reporter

Industries including food, construction feel the pinch

“Not economical to bring the chemical by other modes of transport”

CHENNAI: As the strike by truckers entered the third day, the impact was felt across several sectors, including food and construction industry.

As transportation of vegetables and groceries was hit, some of the smaller hotels in the city have begun to feel the pinch in the absence of adequate availability of commodities.

K. Prabu, who manages three hotels in the city, said supply of vegetables and eggs had been affected. Though the stock on hand would be sufficient for the next couple of days, the hotels would run into problems if the strike prolonged for two or three days more.

Though the cost of food materials has risen over the past two days, the price of the dishes could not be increased as customers may oppose it, he said. Several builders in the city said they had to temporarily suspend construction work on many projects as the building materials have not reached on time. Jahufar Buhari, who is in the business of readymade concrete mix, said some of the projects have been delayed as a particular chemical needed for the concrete mix could not be transported from the warehouse in Coimbatore.

“It is not economical to bring the chemical by other modes of transport,” he said.

Former State chairman (Tamil Nadu and Puducherry) of the Builders’ Association of India J. R. Sethuramalingam said the construction industry, already sagging on account economic recession, was severely hit by the strike. It would have a cascading impact on several hundreds of people dependent on the industry.

The movement of container lorries in the city limits had not been affected so far.

S. Raghavan, secretary, Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the boxes were being transported to locations within the city limits over the past two days.

R. Sugumar, official spokesperson (southern states) of All India Motor Transport Congress, said that the truckers’ strike would continue until the Central government met the demands. Truck owners transporting essential goods such as milk and water also plan to join the strike if the demands are not met.