Demanding end to overloading, Ropar transport society moves court
Tribune News Service
Ropar, August 23
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a notice of motion after The Tipper Transport Society of Ropar moved a petition alleging that overloaded tippers, trailers and trucks are allowed to ply on roads, much to the detriment of their trade and business in particular and causing danger to public at large.
The society claimed that as its members didn’t want to indulge in the practice, they had been losing business to those who were plying overloaded vehicles.
In the petition, the applicant submitted that the said transport vehicles were illegally overloaded far above the permissible limit. “A six-wheel vehicle is allowed about 43 tonnes (200 kg) of total weight, and they can be seen carrying 90 tonnes. Similarly, tippers or trucks that are allowed 28 tonnes are carrying 60 tonnes of weight,” the application claimed.
State put on notice
Issuing a notice of motion to the respondents of the Union Ministry of Roads and Highways; State of Punjab; along with deputy commissioners, Regional Transport Officers and District Transport Officers of Ropar, Mohali and Nawanshahr; the HC has fixed November 25 as the next date of hearing
The society also alleged that the body size of these vehicles had been increased for overloading, flouting the norms and still the officials concerned failed to take any action against the offenders.
According to petition, the Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways in 2012, referring to a decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, wrote a letter to all states and Union Territories, asking them to keepa check on the overloading of vehicles and implement the court orders.
While the neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan had already taken steps in this regard, no action had been taken by authorities concerned in the state, the petitioner claimed.
