law binds Govt’s hands
E-rickshaws in the Capital are far from being controlled by Government authorities. China has been flooding the market with its e-rickshaws as there are hardly any checks and balances for importing e-rickshaws to India. Since the battery-operated rickshaws are not included in the classified list, their import cannot be banned. In a related development, the Union Ministry of Transport wrote to the Ministry of Commerce requesting it to take action against illegal import of e-rickshaw parts, majority of which are being imported from China.
“The Ministry of Commerce is finding difficult to prohibit import of e- rickshaws as it has not been classified by the Ministry and, therefore, are freely importable. This is the reason why no action has been taken to prohibit the import of e-rickshaws,” said officials. During a meeting held on e-rickshaws at the Chief Secretary’s office in April, the Delhi Government had decided to send a letter to Union Secretary (Commerce) to bring the illegal operation of e-rickshaws to the notice of the Ministry, while ensuring all such items were imported in accordance with existing rules and regulations.
“Manufacturers of the battery-operated three-wheelers said the vehicles were assembled with parts imported from China. While batteries, chargers and tyre tubes used in these vehicles are locally available, the body, tyre controllers, motors and engines are imported from Shandong, Jiangsu Zhejiang and Henan in China,” officials said.
Officials said that there is a need of re-examination of matter. At least items such as electrical motors with gears which are being used in manufacturing of e-rickshaws need to be banned or included in the negative list of imports. “Keeping in mind the fact that e-rickshaws are being imported to all the States and their operation is illegal as per law as it stands today, the Ministry of Transport should immediately take up the matter with the Ministry of Commerce for banning import of e-rickshaw and its constituent part throughout the country,” said officials.
The Transport Ministry letter states that a proper investigation should be conducted to look into violations of the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) and other rules so that appropriate legal action can be initiated. Meanwhile, according to a letter written by the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to the Delhi Transport Department on May 29, a committee has been formed to examine the applicability of Motor Vehicles laws and Rules to e-rickshaws in Delhi.
“Under the rules, each manufacturer or importer of motor vehicles - other than trailers and semi-trailers - needs to submit a prototype of the vehicle for a test by any of the seven accredited agencies to ensure compliance under the Motor Vehicles Act. This has not been done by manufacturers and importers of the battery-operated rickshaws,” an official said.