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| Govt delays release of new vehicles in JK | | Babus, Mantries demand graft allege dealers | | Abdul Majid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 19: With the car dealers accusing the babus and the ministers of demanding graft, the Transport Commissioner Parvaiz Iqbal Khateeb's formal orders asking the dealers not to launch new cars before getting them tested by its officials has evoked severe criticism.
The controversial order issued by Transport Commissioner states that each new model of vehicle for introduction/registration into the J&K Transport System shall be submitted to the Transport Commissioner with requisite testing certificate issued by the prescribed agency provided under Rule 126 of Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 with an appropriate amount of fee.
The order also said all the new launches be "inspected and tested from the constituted sub-committee for evaluation and examination of the vehicles in all respects regarding technical specification, security features, road worthiness, climatic conditions and any other aspects that the committee may deem reasonable."
This notification mocks at the role of the prestigious Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), which has been "playing a crucial role in assuring safe, less polluting and more efficient vehicles." Official records reveal that "ARAI provides technical expertise in R & D, testing, certification, homologation and framing of vehicle regulations."
A dealer of world famed carmaker Honda said he has been unable to deliver Jazz cars to his customers for three months as the Transport Commissioner was yet to give clearance for the sedan.
Car dealers said the orders aim at nothing but promotion of corruption. "When every new vehicle is tested for six months by the Automotive Research Association of India before introduced into market what is the fun of this separate certification at local level," said a car dealer adding, "The manufacturer launches the vehicle only after obtaining ARAI Certificate."
"The standards set by ARAI are meant for Indian road conditions. Is Jammu and Kashmir separate from India?" asked another car dealer.
The car dealers said as of now the Transport Commissioner doesn't give clearance to any new vehicle unless, he is paid a hefty bribe. "The lowest slab for clearance of any vehicle is Rs 15 lakhs, " the car dealers said.
Sources said Transport Minister Abdul Ghani Kohli was party to the bribes. "Minister Sahib has his legitimate share in the bribe accepted by this department," said an official asking not to be identified.
The dealers said they have appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to personally look into the matter and see how ministry run by his party candidate was promoting corruption in the state and equally mocking at the safety standards set by Union Government.
Despite repeated attempts, the Transport Commissioner didn't respond to phone calls. When contacted, Transport Minister Abdul Ghani Kohli, refuted charges of corruption leveled against him. He, however, candidly admitted that orders for separate testing in J&K were illogical. "I don't think such orders are needed. I have taken up the matter with Transport Commissioner. You'll see that it's revoked within one or two days," the Minister told Early Times. |
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