The implementation of new GPS system in Odisha to check pilferage of mineral products has become a headache for the owners of trucks and heavy vehicles.
They are incurring heavy financial loss as trucks in large numbers are stranded on the road due to failure of the system in Jharsuguda district. Due to the implementation of the GPS in haste without making available required machines in the market, the owners are incurring a great loss.
While permission was given to five companies for supply of GPS machines to the truck owners, only machines of three companies are available in the market in limited quantity. Due to poor supply, the owners cannot purchase the same. On the other hand, such machines with MRP of Rs 9,400 are sold between Rs 10,500 and Rs 12,000 in the market when machines of other companies are sold between Rs 3,000 and Rs 3,500. Owners suspect irregularity in granting permission to the five companies by the Government where there is no transparency.
Sambalpur based Deputy Director of Mines Bishnu Rout has, however, a different opinion in this regard. He said that due to heavy demands of the truck owners to instal GPS system in their vehicles, required machines could not be available in the market. The allegation of selling machines at higher rates by the vendors is baseless, he added.
Due notification has been made by the Government for granting permission to five companies after following necessary tender formalities. Software integration has been done with the approved companies, he informed.
However, the situation will be normal by the end of this month. Due to interim order by the Odisha High Court on a petition by Brajrajnagar Truck Owners Association, 1,957 vehicles are kept out of the purview of this system until further orders, he added.
When almost 3,500 vehicles in Jharsuguda district including 1,447 of Maa Samlei Truck Owners Association are kept out of the purview of the GPS system in the process, the allegation of vehicles stranded on the road by the owners is not understood, Rout added further.
Brajrajnagar Truck Owners Association president Amiya Samal said that failure in proper enforcement of GPS system without ensuring supply of machines in the market and giving monopoly to the vendors to sell machines at high rate is very unfortunate.
However, the owners are relieved to some extent due to interim stay orders granted by the HC last week for implementation of the system. While in other States, the owners are given ample freedom to adopt the new system, in Odisha giving permission to specific companies to sell at high rates is against the interest of the owners and the Government should take steps address the issue, many truck owners suggested.