Compensated trucks lacked updated documents
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 29 2014: Even as the Government has already compensated owners of 39 trucks which were burnt down during the total bandh called in pursuit of the demand for granting full fledged district status to Sadar Hills, it has come to light that most of these trucks did no possess complete documents necessary for operating on National Highways.

Although most of the trucks did not possess complete documents, the State Government, as decided in a Cabinet meeting, gave compensation out of mercy, informed a well placed source.

According to an official of Transport Department, trucks operating on National Highways should possess up to date RC book, national permit, fitness certificate, pollution related documents/certificates, local permit and insurance documents.

File pic of a truck set aflame during the Sadar Hills blockade in 2011

Most of the trucks operating on Imphal-Dimapur highway, Imphal-Jiribam highway and Imphal-Jessami highway do not have complete set of these documents.

Notably, Sadar Hills District-hood Demand Committee imposed a total bandh on National Highways from August 1, 2011 to October 1, 2011 .

During the prolonged bandh, a number of trucks transporting essential commodities were set ablaze.

Out of the total trucks vandalised, the State Government selected 39 trucks for paying compensation ranging from Rs two lakh to Rs eight lakh.

The Government spent around Rs 1.5 crore in paying compensation for the 39 trucks.

Out of the 39 trucks, two/three trucks had insurance cover.

As such their compensation amounts were adjusted with the amounts entitled to them from their insurance policies.

One transporter, on condition of anonymity, told The Sangai Express that the Government cannot give compensation for the burnt down trucks if one goes strictly by established rules.

No compensation was paid in the past too.

It was for the first time vandalised trucks were compensated during the episode of Sadar Hills bandh.

Of the hundreds of trucks transporting goods to Imphal from Jiribam, Silchar, Dimapur and Guwahati, only one per cent has complete set of documents.

Again, these trucks do not apply for any insurance policy except for a few trucks purchased anew.

One major reason for truck owners to stay away from insurance policies is the large amount of premium they have to pay periodically.

Moreover, truck owners are deterred from joining insurance schemes as no insurance policy covers damages inflicted by UG groups.

Of the compensation amounts paid for the 39 trucks, for some trucks the amounts were calculated taking into account goods they brought in but were destroyed together with the trucks.

But according to rules, agencies or traders (of the goods brought in by the trucks) should bear the loss caused by such vandalism on highways.

Agencies and traders may recuperate what they lost from insurance companies.

But most of the traders and agencies based at Imphal except for some very big and well known establishments do not apply for insurance cover.

Trucks are only earning the fare loading themselves with whatever goods they can lay their hands on at Guwahati, Dimapur or Silchar.

There is no clear cut understanding regarding who stands to lose when any unfortunate incidents happen on the way.

At times of accidents, truck owners too stand to lose.

But in case the traders/agencies have insurance cover, goods they lose on the way may be recuperated from insurance companies.

Goods destroyed together with the 39 trucks set ablaze during Sadar Hills bandh were compensated by the Government as owners (of the goods) did not join any insurance policy.

With majority of the traders/agencies abstaining themselves from insurance policies, the Government would be compelled to spend huge amounts of money in paying compensation for trucks as well as goods they bring in whenever trucks are set ablaze on highways which has become more of a common practice than the exception in the State.