Trichy: The indefinite strike by truck operators, which began on Friday, has brought the movement of tonnes of salt to a halt in Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district. About one lakh tonne of salt is lying in the saltern due to the strike.Truck operators have launched a nationwide strike with several demands including reduction in diesel prices and toll fee. Salt bags meant to be transported to other states including Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have been lying on the hundreds of salt pans for last two days, salt producers lamented.Salt is being produced in about 10,000 acres in Vedaranyam, Agasthiyampalli and Kodiyakkarai coast of which nearly 7,000 acres are in the hands of two corporate companies. The remaining 3,000 acres are owned by about 900 individual licensees affiliated to Vedaranyam Small and Medium scale Salt Producers' Federation.February to July is the usual season when salt production is at its peak. As there was no rain during that period this year, production was much better as compared to the last few years. However, due to the strike, producers were forced to incur loss as thousands of tonnes of salt is lying idle in the salt pan, secretary of the federation V Senthil said.“We consign around 100 trucks of salt on daily basis to various places across the country and also in Tamil Nadu. More than 1,000 load men are sitting idle as there is no work for them. If this situation continues, we have no option but to stop production. If we do so, around 10,000 workers would lose their work as well as their wage,” he added.

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