Stepping up the heat on defiant striking truckers, the Centre has advised state governments to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and the National Security Act (NSA) if they do not get back to work and restore the movement of essential goods across the country. Once ESMA is invoked, the government will have the authority to arrest the truckers who are disrupting the flow of essential services. The government has also asked states to take other steps such as cancellation of permits and requisitioning of trucks and lorries.

“The suggestive action plan includes declaring transport services as an essential service and invoking ESMA, NSA, other legal instruments, cancellation of permit under Section 86 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, requisitioning trucks and lorries under relevant legal provisions, involving local traders/business community etc,” an official release stated.

With the additional headroom given by dipping inflation, the government has used the option to play tough this time. In the previous strike of July 2008, inflation was soaring above 10 per cent and non-movement of goods would have further contributed to price rise.

The states have also been advised to make use of transport vehicles for carrying essential commodities without the requirement of any permit under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Maharashtra government has already issued notification to this effect. The states have also been advised to make adequate arrangements at railway terminals to speed up the loading and unloading of the goods transported through rail. The railways ministry has also stepped in to prevent a crisis on the supply of essential commodities and has told all its zonal offices to ensure speedy movement of perishable goods, food grains for public distribution system, edible salt, oil products etc.

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