MC vehicles plying without fitness, pollution certificates

Ravneet Singh

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 21

The Municipal Corporation (MC) has been plying its vehicles without their complete fitness, pollution and insurance certificates. This has been revealed in the corporation’s reply to an RTI application.

The corporation as per its list has 26 two-wheelers, a three-wheeler and other commercial vehicles, including tractors, four-wheelers, loaders, compactors, tippers and motorcycles. While tractors date back to 2001 and 2002 almost all other vehicles have been purchased recently.

In the RTI reply, the corporation stated it does not have any record of documents pertaining to vehicles’ fitness and pollution certificates.

On the other hand, the corporation has provided details of registration certificates (RC) of 18 vehicles along with insurance details of 11 mentioned vehicles. Insurance copies of other seven vehicles not mentioned in the list were also provided in the reply.

Questions are being raised over plying vehicles without fitness certificates, which are mandatory as per the Motor Vehicle Act. The fitness certificate is a check for technical faults, emission issues and overall working condition of the commercial vehicle.

Davinderpal Singh, an RTI activist, who filed the application, said, “If rules are meant for all why should government vehicles go scot-free? Having relevant certificates and approvals is mandatory for all vehicles. In a case of an accident, the presence of documents can help in providing timely aid and compensation to the victim lest the parties will have to go to court to resolve the matter.”

Another city resident said, “Private vehicles are issued challans for not carrying relevant documents. The same should be applicable to vehicles of all government departments.”

When contacted, Corporation Commissioner Poonamdeep Kaur said, “Most of our vehicles are new. I have asked officials concerned to complete paperwork of some old vehicles in a day.”