Date:09/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/09/stories/2009010950480300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Udhagamandalam

Strike: tea warehouses overflow

Special Correspondent

Udhagamandalam: The continuing truckers strike has become a major source of concern among various sections of the society in this hill station.

Among the sections worst hit was the tea industry.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Thursday, industry sources said that all the tea warehouses were overflowing and labourers were idling.

With the arrival of about 13 lakh kg for this week’s auctions over 35 lakh kg were now waiting to be moved to various places.

Though the market was now steady, it is feared that if the situation does not improve there would be a marginal fall in the prices.

It will have a cascading effect and the growers will suffer.

A dealer in electrical goods Murli Khemchand said that since most of his items came from warehouses in Chennai and Coimbatore, the lorry strike was severely hampering his operations.

“I am finding it difficult to stick to my delivery schedule,” he added.

Vegetables

Meanwhile the prices of vegetables have registered a marginal increase.

The situation was reviewed at a meeting of officials and police held here on Thursday.