Hearing on a public interest litigation filed regarding overloading of trucks in the Kumaon region, the High Court of Utarakhand has directed the regional transport office to stringently prevent overloading of trucks in Bagehswar, Pithoragarh, Nainital, Champawat and Almora districts. The court has also sought a report on this by November 29. Further, the High Court has also issued directions to the Food Corporation of India, Kumaon branch, FCI, Uttarakhand, transport department’s Kumaon division to take action against overloading.
According to the details of the case, advocate Sunder Singh Mehra had filed a public interest litigation in the high court alleging that overloaded trucks from the food corporation are plying the roads in Kumaon where they are also causing damage to the roads in some areas. In some cases, the overloaded trucks have also become a risk to the structural stability of bridges built many years ago. It has been stated that in places where the load bearing capacity is about 90 quintals, larger 12-wheeler trucks stated to have a load bearing capacity of 200 quintals are being driven. The petitioner further stated that the road from Ghat to Pithoragarh is very narrow but heavy trucks are being plied here. The Devbhumi truck association head had written to the authorities citing the supreme court orders proscribing such practices in mountainous regions. However, no action was taken by the regional authority. The public interest litigation was taken up for hearing by the high court division bench comprising chief justice KM Joseph and justice VK Bisht.