Police to take action against illegal vans

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 14 FEB: Malda district administration will take illegal action against the ‘illegal’ motorised three-wheeler vans from 16 February. The decision was taken on the night of 12 February after an all-party meeting following the demands of the authorised passenger vehicles’ owners was held here.

Besides Suci, other political parties including the Citu have agreed to the decision.

The district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh said: “Police would take action against the illegal vans if they continue plying on the roads. The state transport department has given route permits to only the passenger vehicles such as bus, mini-bus, taxi, trekker and other contract carriers for passengers”.

Police have been asked to seize illegal vans and start a specific case against the driver or owner of the van.

Meanwhile, police have already arrested seven persons from Manikchak area for allegedly manufacturing illegal motorised van by assembling parts of stolen motor cycles.

Police decided to continue raid in such manufacturing centres in Samsi, Bhado in Ratua, Bhaluka in Harishchandrapur and other places across the district to seize the illegal vans.

The police had to take the decision following a compliant lodged by the Malda Bus Owners’ Association in the all-party meeting held ob 12 February.

The secretary of the association, Mr Kajal Roy alleged that a section of traders were collecting machines from China illegally and were selling them for manufacturing motorised vans in this district.

Mr Roy also urged the district administration to take action against the manufacturers.

The owners have invested at least Rs 35,000 to Rs 45,000 to buy a van and can earn at Rs 200 to 250 per day carrying passengers and goods.

The cost of fuel is low and they do not pay tax to the government.

The Suci district secretary Mr Gopal Nandi has formed a union of van owners and is still demanding administrative permission from district motor vehicles’ authorities for carrying passengers and goods on all roads including state highways.

The district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh said: “Administration is in no position to fulfill their demands because motor vehicles’ department can not register such vehicle model which is neither manufactured by a company nor approved by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI)”.