Older vehicles that have hardly got clearance to ply on the streets of Ranchi for contributing to the pollution level seem to be making their way to hinterlands of Ranchi for election duty.
Ranchi’s Morhabadi Maidan is full of several vehicles that are more than a decade old which is as evident by the cursory glance of the vehicle as by the number plate however the administration doesn’t looks to be aware of that. Even, the drivers who are aware of the prohibitory order of the Jharkhand High Court preferred not to share details of their vehicles.
“This is a 1999 manufactured model. (Choriye na kya kariyega jaan kar) leave it what you will achieve by knowing (about the vehicle),” said the driver of a trekker while waiting for authorities to call his name.
Most of the vehicles comprising trekker that has gone out of production and school buses were apparently registered in Bihar (BR series) while some vehicles that will be used for election display the serial number- BPR, BEN- with the date of registration double the legal age to cast vote in elections. Some although registered in Jharkhand have fitness certificate that is on the verge of expiry or have outlived the permissible age to ply on the streets of Ranchi.
Interestingly, officials sitting in the vehicle cell at Morhabadi ground seem oblivious about vehicles that they have seized to ferry man and material to polling booths across Ranchi parliamentary constituency. Instead, the vehicles that should have been phased out are being used like any other vehicle with permit in consonance with Jharkhand High Court order of 2012.
The Jharkhand High Court while disposing a Public Interest litigation on curbing pollution levels in Ranchi had directed the State government to crack down on autos that were more than 10 years old and buses, taxis and trucks older than 15 years. However, the directive given by the two judge bench in 2012 was resisted by owners of buses and trucks thus putting breaks on the exercise and finally bringing everything to halt.
“We could not check that and we don’t have time now to verify that,” said District Transport Officer of Ranchi, Rajesh Kumar, who happens to be the head the vehicle cell at Morhabadi.
“There is no such directive (not to use older vehicles for election purpose) has been issued to us,” maintained the DTO Ranchi. Notably, the district administration is likely to use as many as 600 school buses, around 300 mini trucks, 200 four-wheelers and 1500 three wheelers in the elections.