By Our Special Correspondent
JAMMU: Facing discrimination at the hands of Transport Department over erroneous application of NGT guidelines, the auto dealers has pinned hope on LG Manoj Sinha to save their crumbling bussiness from dying.
“Under the garb of enforcing Air Quality Maintenance Control as per the laid norms of National Green Tribunal, the Transport Department in the Union Territory of J&K has allowed sales of 4 tyre BSVI Diesel variant load careers whereas it has restricted the sale of BSVI three tyres load career in Diesal variant” said one dealer preferring anonymity.
Giving details another dealer said “Four tyre and three tyre Diesel variant load career are fitted with engine of Graves company having exact same specifications which met the norms of BSIV with approval of ARAI”
Astonighly, the Transport Department accords approval for sale of BSVI Diesel driven three tyre load careers in almost 12 districts of J&K UT, the authorities adopted dilly dallying tactics over permission for sale in Jammu as well as Srinagar Districts only.
Significantly, the economically weaker section of the society to support their daily needs prefferd to buy 3 tyres load career as there is difference of more than one lakhs as compared to 4 tyres load career.
The prolong delay in sales and registration of 3 tyres load career if further kept on hold will not only prove death kneel for the poor drivers but also for the dealers, said one of the dealer.
Interestingly, the Revised Action Plan of J&K drafted in refrence to NGT order dated Oct 8, 2018 has categorically mentioned ban on registration of only Diesel driven Autorickshaws and Tempos which means passengers autos/tempos”
Not only this, the draft transport policy of J&K transport department has also categorically proposed this ban subject to the availability of CNG facilities in the region.
However, the authorities while taking refugee under the NGT guidelines has accord approval to the sale and registration of Diesel driven four tyres load career fitted with BSVI Diesel enginee whereas it has delayed the permission to three tyres in the same category.
Terming the order No 14-C of 2020 dated 17/2/2020 issued by Transport Commissioner, the aggrieved dealers said” The order is applied to Diesel driven Autorickshaws/Tempo but the authorities are delaying the sale of permission of three tyre Diesel driven load careers for the reasons best known to them”
Strangely, as per Order No 85- MVD of 2020 dated 25/09/2020 issues by Transport Commissioner, the Transport Department has granted permission for sales and registration of 7 different models of Diesal driven vehicles which interestingly also includes Mahindra Jeeto, TATA, etc which is a a four tyre load career fitted with same specifications engine as that of three tyre load career.
It’s intriguing to see that the authorities has granted permission for sale of 4 tyres load career but preferred to sit on the permission for sale of three tyres load careers which have same engine as that of 4 tyres approved load careers, said one dealer of Srinagar.
Official response on the matter couldn’t be materialized as neither Principal Secretary Transport Department, Hirdesh Singh nor Transport Commissioner, Pardeep Kumar responded to our calls.