VASCO
Members of Mormugao Against Pollution (MAP) on Tuesday afternoon blocked trucks loaded with wood chips near IOC junction, after the members accused the contractors and truck owners of filling the trucks beyond permissible limit.
The MAP members also alleged that an increase in height had caused hardship to two and four-wheelers.
Speaking to The Goan, NCP State President Jose Philip D’Souza said trucks are allowed to carry goods within permissible limit, which is 3.8 metres. “The truck owners and contractors flout traffic and road safety rules and fill the trucks with wood chips beyond permissible limit,” he said.
“It causes a lot of hardship and creates fear in the minds of two and four-wheelers, as cargo is almost bulging on either sides. While overtaking these trucks, one gets a feeling that the cargo might fall any moment and the vehicle users could get trapped under the cargo,” said D’Souza.
“Worst still is that these trucks fall down while climbing the Vaddem slope, which further causes traffic hardship on either side of the slope,” he added.
Nasir Khan of MAP said they had served a 15-day ultimatum and as the government had failed to come up with corrective measures, MAP decided to block the trucks on Tuesday.
“Earlier, we had to breathe air polluted with coal dust and now, one more monster has been added in the form of wood chips, which fall on the road and after getting crushed under the wheels of other vehicles, creating wood chip dust which is being inhaled along with the coal dust pollution,” said Khan.
Law enforcement agencies shy away from responsibilities
VASCO: Law enforcement agencies were quick to point fingers at each other, after protesters blocked trucks loaded with wood chips near the IOC junction.
RTO Inspector Jack D’Souza, who was present at the site along with his other colleagues, inspected the challans of the trucks and found that the weight was in order.
As far as height is concerned, D’Souza personally measured the height of few trucks and said average height of each truck is about 4.5 mtrs, which is beyond the permissible limit.
Asked if he would initiate any action, D’Souza said he would issue challans. “We have written to MPT about the height, but till date, MPT has failed to initiate action against increase in height of the wood chips loaded on the trucks,” added D’Souza.
MAP members then met Traffic Cell PI Sudesh Narvekar and highlighted the issue. PI Narvekar, however, shifted the blame on the RTO, stating that traffic department did not have any powers to challan the trucks for increasing the cargo height beyond limits.
PI Narvekar further claimed that due to staff shortage, most of his staff is on duty along the highways and added that they cannot monitor the movement of trucks.
A source in the Traffic Cell was surprised by PI Narvekar's statement that the Traffic Cell did not have powers to challan the trucks.
“If the PI wants, he can issue challans to truck operators for endangering human life and property, which is very much within his powers,” said the source.
