‘DTO is money making dept’

SHILLONG, NOV 20: The District Transport Office (DTO) in East Khasi hills has allegedly violated the order issued by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) board for allotment of  permit to rural and women local taxis, an RTI report revealed.

An RTI reply sought by  the 3 mile-Upper Shillong resident Desper Sing Rani from the the DTO office on the subject revealed that the DTO violated the RTA order.

Rani told a news conference on Thursday, “As per the RTI findings, it has revealed that the office of the DTO has violated the order issued by the RTA Board by allotting permit to a vehicle which is not eligible for the scheme under the rural and women local taxis category.”

According to Rani, the five meeting held between November and December 2010  the RTA clearly underlined – “Permit should be allotted to local taxi, the vehicle of which shall be 2005 model onwards or brand new.”

But Rani complains that a 2004-model vehicle bearing registration number – ML 05-D-8678 figured amongst the 45 odd local taxis allotted with the permit under the scheme as per the list provided by the DTO. He said, “This clearly indicated that the DTO has violated the order of the RTA.”

Rani alleged that this was also done without the consent of the RTA adding “As per the reply of the DTO, there has been no meeting of the RTA since December 7, till date.”

Rani also enquired on the number of allottees who failed to meet the said criteria of the RTA and the number of allottee for rural taxi who had requested for time’s extension to place the vehicle.

In its reply the  DTO mentioned that there is only one (out of 45) placed before March, 2011 for extension of time.  On this, Rani said the DTO has again disrespected the rules and regulation laid down by the RTA

Rani informed that as per the order, the RTA has stated clearly “Please note that no prayer for extension of time will be entertained or considered under any circumstances in case of allottee is not able to place the vehicle on road within the period specified that is March 21, 2011.”

Of these 45 odd taxis were only for rural taxis (having green and white colour) from the target of 100 numbers. The DTO has so far allotted permit to 40 women taxis out of 100.

The DTO further claimed that allotment of permit to these taxis were placed only vide the order issued by the chairman, who is also the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills District. Rani, however, said when they met the DC recently he clarified nothing can be done without the consent of the RTA as it is a board.

Rani alleged that the DTO has also rampantly carried out the registration process of all vehicles without implementing the order of the RTA which also directed that vehicles whose weight are exceeding 3000 kilograms requires to apply permit before plying on the road.

The order applies to all vehicles including private and government.

“Despite this order, the DTO was seen ignoring it by freely issuing registration to such vehicles without any permit,” Rani said while citing the case of STPS buses bearing registration of ML 01 in the city. He said that these red buses though catering to public interest have failed to obtain permit even after their weight have exceed the 3000 Kg.

Rani said, “The DTO while refusing to give information on this matter (red buses) however has asked me to submit my query to the Urban Affairs Department, which I find it very illogical since the DTO is the department which looks after such matters.”

Alleging that there are many irregularities taking place in the DTO office, Rani said the DTO has become a department only to manufacture money and the law seems to be blind (Andha Kanoon) as it does not seem to apply for this particular department.- By Our Reporter