Vehicle unutilized

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, JULY 11: The Mobile Test Kit vehicle (of 30 tons) of the Legal Metrology department has been lying unutilized for the past many years after it was found not feasible for hilly terrain, officials said today.

The vehicle – parked in the District Transport Office (DTO) East Khasi Hills District – has also recently attracted the attention of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) when it raised concern over sudden price hike of cement in the state.

“We have taken up the issue with the Government of India with a request to take it (vehicle) back as it not meant for hilly terrain or give it to Assam. However, there has been no response even after having written for 50 times,” Controller of Legal Metrology IW Ingty told reporters here on Tuesday.

The request, he said was due to the maintenance cost of the vehicle is too high. “It took us six and a half hour to take the vehicle to Jowai (in West Jaintia Hills) from Shillong and the maintenance cost for that is Rs 6,000,” Ingty added.

Informing that the vehicle was sanctioned way back in 2009 to the state, he said due to this technical problem, the vehicle is lying idle and is becoming an eyesore to the people even though it is still in a workable condition.

“Therefore, we feel it is best we give it back to the Centre and replace it with small Mobile Test Kit vehicles (which are of 16 tons),” he said.