Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday invoked the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act (ESMA) to deal with the strike called by transporters loaders and tippers under the banner of All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) on July 20. As per reports, the prohibitory order would remain in force for next six months.

Transport associations cannot resort to strike and violation of the ESMA will attract legal action, cautioned the State Home department in its notification.

The stir would lead to halt in mineral transportation as a result of which the State government will lose crores of rupees daily. Further, it would hit the production and royalty. Therefore, the ESMA has been put into force, the department added.

The All-India Motor Transport Congress had called a strike on July 20 pressing for fulfilment of their various demands.

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