Sources in the District Collectorate, the National Horticulture Board and the Agriculture Market Produce Committee said that the supply of all necessary goods -- including vegetables, LPG, milk, edible oil, grains etc -- was normal and that their prices had not been affected by the transporters' strike.

Though many spinners have used their own means to transport yarn from spinning units in the outskirts of the city, South Gujarat Texturisers' Association president Pannabhai Bachkaniwla said on Monday that 400 to 500 tonnes of yarn, which comes from Silvassa everyday, had not reached the city since the strike began.

``Some yarn is being brought from Kim but that is practically insignificant'', he stated.

Bachkaniwala added that while 50 per cent of the texturising units had shut down previously because of acute recession in the industry, another 25 per cent of had been forced to shut shop following the unavailability of yarn. ``Even the 25 per cent which is still operating will not last long if the strike continues,'' he warned.

Meanwhile, office-bearers of the South Gujarat Transporters' Association said they were waiting for the outcome of talks between the All-India Transport Congress and the government, and as of now, had kept their vehicles off the roads. Meanwhile, in Vadodara, after onions and potatoes, it was the turn of almost all other vegetables to become dearer on the fifth day of the truckers' strike. The Vadodara Municipal Corporation, too, began to feel the pinch with its daily octroi collection dipping to Rs 6 lakhs from Rs 30 lakh.

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 S 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.