TRANSPORT owners have totally shut down road communication in the northern and southern parts of the country. A 72-hour strike has been called by the Truck Owners’ Association press their 8-point demands which include withdrawal of enhanced taxes on various types of vehicles, tyre-tubes and spare parts. They have called a further 48-hour strike on 13 and 14 July. The higher levies had come in for criticism and the transport owners duly ventilated their grievances closely on the heels of the budget announcement. But nobody responded to the situation in good time as a result of which almost two-thirds of the country have now come to a standstill. Newspaper reports have it thatThousands of passengers and huge quantities of perishable commodities that included foodstuff and vegetables are stranded in various districts. The strike has paralysed mobility in 49 districts.

The Communications Minister reportedly blamed the striking transport owners for not informing the government before going into action. But is it not the responsibility of the ministiy concerned to keep tab on such matters? This paper has in the past suggested formation of a task force for solving such problems. We reiterate the stand for the third time in a row.