Though vegetables were available in plenty in the city markets, the prices of cauliflowers, cabbage, lady's finger, tomatoes and giloda continued to climb up. Traders at the Khanderao Market said that the high prices of what was available was more because local farmers were seeking to balance their higher outlay on diesel.

According to Sukhdev Patel, a senior office-holder of the District's and the State Vegetable Merchants' Union, vegetable prices would come down only if there was a glut in the markets. ``If the government does not intervene and standardise prices, such factors will continue to create problems for the populace'', he added.

District Supply Officer D G Khachar, meanwhile, told Express Newsline that the administration was keeping a round-the-clock watch on the supply of essential commodities.

Announcing that the DSO had enough stocks of wheat, rice and sugar to last three months, he said, ``We can requisition vehicles to maintain the supply of any quantity of petrol, diesel, LPG cylinders and other essential commodities. But there has been no need for this so far.''

Meanwhile, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (General) I B Peerzada said the civic body had already lost around Rs 1.10 crore in octroi because of the truckers' stir. The agitation began on October 20.

``Only if the strike ends in a day or two will the VMC be able to make up for the loss'', he said, expressing fears that if it continued for a few more days, Diwali orders could get cancelled.

The Baroda Road Transport Association, meanwhile, has appealed to the Vadodara Chamber of Commerce and Industry not to pressure truckers to load their goods because of the ongoing nationwide strike.

BRTA secretary P M Vaghela said that transport industry was passing through a severe crisis because of the ``sharp rise in cost of spares, tyres, increase in local taxes, police and RTO harassment and frequent highway robberies''.

He added, ``To compound our miseries, the Union Government has served a fatal blow by steep(ly) hiking diesel prices, forcing most of the truck operators to close their business''.