A part of the city reportedly got distress calls, according to Atul Peshawaria of the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association. “Today, trucks did not visit the depots.”

The availability of fuel at pumps in some areas of the city and the supply of fruits and vegetables in Delhi’s wholesale markets were impacted by truckers’ protests over the new punitive law on hit-and-run accidents.

According to Atul Peshawaria of the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association, a portion of the city reportedly got distress calls. “Today, trucks did not visit the depots. Some protested, but others feared that the demonstrating drivers might abuse them. The issue wasn’t limited to petrol stations; manufacturing facilities were also impacted, he claimed.

Although supplies were not entirely stopped at Azadpur, the largest vegetable mandi in Delhi, fewer trucks carrying supplies did arrive, according to dealers. “As truckers in many parts of the country are being stopped at checkpoints and some are protesting, there has been a slowdown in supply, causing delay in reaching the wholesale markets,” a wholesale vendor in the largest mandi in Asia stated.

The protest caused supplies from Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan to be delayed for around five to six hours, according to traders. Produce from Azadpur Mandi is supplied not just to smaller mandis in the area but also to stores.

“Vegetables will not be exported to other wholesale markets that rely on Delhi if they do not get to us. Another trader stated that prices will gradually rise if the situation does not improve by tomorrow.

Since Monday, truck drivers have been staging protests against the strict provisions of the recently passed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which punishes drivers for fleeing a hit-and-run incident without reporting it to the police with a fine of up to Rs 7 lakh or up to 10 years in prison.

The protest affected the fuel supply as well because drivers were observed standing in long lines outside gas stations, which led to a panic buy.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/truckers-strike-hits-supply-at-delhis-wholesale-markets-9092632/