Transportation of goods by trucks in the State is likely to be hit by the 36-hour all India strike called by the All India Motor Transport Congress demanding inclusion of diesel in the Goods and Sales Tax (GST) ambit.
Odisha Goods Transport Association president Niranjan Praharaj said, “We express solidarity with the strike called by the all-India body. The daily change in prices of fuel products is affecting us and every individual severely. The Central Government is increasing fuel prices even as the price of crude barrel has decreased in the international market. The Government is giving an explanation that it is using the taxes levied on fuel for development. But was not development done by the earlier Governments,” Praharaj questioned.
He further said due to strike the common man will be hit hard. The Central Government must include diesel in the GST. Or like the agriculture sector it should provide subsidies to the transporters. Otherwise development will be hampered.
All Odisha Transport Association president Subrat Kumar Nanda said, “More than 1,20,000 big trucks , 40,000 mini trucks and 7,0000 transport companies will hold a token strike from today demanding inclusion of diesel in the GST. The strike would affect intra-State and transportation of goods and commodities in the State. Eighty to 85 per cent of our earnings are spend on fuel and toll tax. With 15 per cent it is difficult to carry on business, Nanda said.