MARGAO
The flying squad of the Directorate of Transport on Friday booked an offence against a vehicle transporting electricity poles on the NH-66 at Sirlim.
The vehicle was transporting around eight electricity poles from Honda-Usgao to Betul.
The Directorate of Transport Flying Squad consisting of Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) Percy Coutinho, Jimreeves Rebello and AMVI Charles Faria booked the offence under 194 (1A) of the MV Act and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000. The driver was directed to arrange an alternative vehicle having the required specifications to transport the electricity poles from Sirlim to Betul.
GOACAN co-ordinator Roland Martins has expressed concern over the transportation of electricity poles in violation of the MV Act and endangering the lives of people. He said the vehicle carrying electricity poles was stopped by GOACAN on Friday noon at Sirlim on the highway.
Martins lamented that despite the accident that occurred in August 2020 at Borim where in three Electricity Department employees lost their lives, the Department is turning a blind eye to the transportation of these poles as the same is being done in non-department vehicles in violation of the MV Act.
GOACAN Secretary Lorna Fernandes said that GOACAN has decided to write to the District Collector to issue directives to the Electricity Department, the factory owner, contractors, Traffic Police and Directorate of Transport that such vehicles carrying protruding electricity poles in violation of the MV Act will not be allowed entry into talukas of Ponda & Salcete, Mormugao Sanguem, Quepem, Dharbandora and Canacona with immediate effect.She added: “Lest we forget the August 2020 Borim incident where three Electricity Department employees lost their lives due to the negligence of the department in allowing the electricity poles to be transported in an unauthorised vehicle.”
