PANAJI
Had it not been for the government’s vehicle scrapping policy, its very own departments’ light motor vehicles (LMVs) and heavy vehicles “ some of which are as old as 40 years “ would have continued to run on the roads.
Out of around 1.9 lakh vehicles that have surpassed 15 years in the current scenario, Goa already has 521 government vehicles earmarked for scrapping. Among these, quite a few across various departments be it Goa Police, Panchayats, Electricity, Health, Public Works Department and even the Corporation of the City of Panaji are using these unfit vehicles.
While the highest 96 vehicles including minibuses, two-wheelers, four-wheelers, cranes, etc belong to the Goa Police, it had a recovery van procured way back in 1998 while few others were brought in the early 2000s. Not surprisingly, PWD has vehicles procured in the 80s and 90s and are still in use, as per the data tabled in the ongoing monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly.
“Government will carry out scrapping of these vehicles as per Vehicle Scrapping Policy,” Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said in reply to a question by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat.
After Goa Police, PWD stands second in the list with 82 water tankers, jeeps, LMVs, etc already outdated. Over a dozen vehicles were procured in the 80s while a few were in the 90s. Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited which often witnesses breakdowns of its buses has 16 buses and two goods carriers ready for scrapping, yet running on the roads risking the lives of the passengers. Interestingly, five of these buses and the two goods carriers are operational despite being 18 years while the remaining have just recently crossed 15 years.
The Electricity Department too does not lag behind as it audaciously uses vehicles procured in the 80s. Nearly all the vehicles of this department are over 20 years and 30 years old. Of around 10 vehicles belonging to the Department of Panchayats, the maximum are aged between 24 and 27 years while WRD also has some vehicles procured in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000.
In line with the Central government’s vehicle scrapping policy, the State government had two months ago notified the Registered Vehicle Scrapping Policy of Goa, 2023, providing comprehensive guidelines for the scrapping of old and unfit vehicles in both “ transport and non-transport categories. Initially, 1.92 lakh vehicles over 15 years old will come under its ambit with the policy to be enforced for five years, in the first phase.
