TDC demands arrest of NHIDCL DGM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 14 2020:
Blaming the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) for the death of Ph Khamba who died when his truck plunged into Irang River after the bridge snapped in the middle, the Transporters and Drivers Council has demanded arrest of NHIDCL DGM.
Speaking to media persons today, TDC president H Ranjit asserted that NHIDCL is culpable for the death of the truck driver.
Informing that an FIR has been registered at Nungba police station in connection with the incident, Ranjit claimed it has been confirmed that NHIDCL is responsible for the death of the driver.
Taking strong exception to the statements made by the NHIDCL DGM in some sections of media regarding the collapse of Irang Bridge and the fall of a truck (tipper), the TDC president maintained that NHIDCL is undeniably guilty in the particular incident.
Pointing out that an FIR has been registered at Nungba police station in connection with the incident, Ranjit said that the NHIDCL DGM should be arrested.
There is a concrete proof of NHIDCL welding defective parts of the 15/16 years old bridge instead of replacing the defective or worn out components, he said.
Maintaining that it was the defective components which were kept in use by welding them repeatedly which led to the collapse of Irang Bridge, Ranjit questioned the meaning of transporting excessive loads.
There are gazette notifications issued by the Government of India which specified how much loads trucks having 10 axles and 12 axles can carry, Ranjit said.
Even though all National Highways are under the National Highway Authority of India, the then Transport Commissioner issued an order in collusion with the BRO which was then in-charge of Imphal-Jiribam highway.
Even if the Transport Secretary has to issue any such order, it should be a temporary one but the particular order was issued as a permanent one and it is still in force, Ranjit said.
The Irang Bridge which collapsed recently was built in 2005.Had trucks been carrying excessive loads, it would have collapsed much earlier.
Whether it is NHIDCL or the Transport Department, they have a hidden agenda as far as NH-37 is concerned, he alleged.
There is a hidden agenda of dissuading transporters from plying on Imphal-Jiribam highway and push them back to Imphal- Dimapur highway, Ranjit continued.
He said that the TDC would never accept weighing of trucks at Jiribam and there is no need for the owner of the weighbridge to run from one pillar to another.
If the trucks should be weighed, it should be done at Makru, Barak or Irang Bridge otherwise weighing trucks would turn out to be a convenient mode of earning easy money for the weighbridge owner at the cost of all transporters and the general public, Ranjit said.
It is also important to see that people engaged for checking weights of trucks are sincere, he added.
If anybody is saying that trucks are transporting excessive loads and trucks are not allowed to carry 15 tonnes, tax collected by Transport for carrying 15 tonnes should be reimbursed, he said.
Unable to bear the continuous harassment meted out to transporters by different UG groups along Imphal-Dimapur highway, the TDC made all efforts and invested several crores to switch their route to Imphal-Jiribam highway since 2010, Ranjit said.
He said that NHIDCL should pay adequate compensation to the family of the deceased driver.
If trucks are not allowed to carry loads heavier than 24 tonnes, the Transport Department should review and fix a new and appropriate transport fare/charge, he asserted.
Comment
