Mumbai Beat

Warning to tanker ownersMUMBAI, January 28: The Transport Commissioner, Mumbai, has warned tanker owners in the city to discontinue malpract...

Warning to tanker owners

MUMBAI, January 28: The Transport Commissioner, Mumbai, has warned tanker owners in the city to discontinue malpractices and threatened to revoke the licences of members of the Maharashtra Tank Lorry Owners8217; Association, who have proceeded on a strike since last midnight.

Tanker owners in the city are protesting the state government8217;s road safety drive, which resulted in severe action against overloaded tankers.

In a strongly worded press release issued late this evening, the transport commissioner said while most transport operators welcomed the drive, the MTLOA has refused to take any safety precautions.

In view of the stone-pelting on tankers at Wadala today morning, the transport department has ordered oil companies to terminate contracts of transporters who resorted to violence and malpractices. Oil companies have also been directed to supply products only to the extent of permissible weight and terminate the contracts of those transporters who have resorted toviolence and malpractices.

Meanwhile, a release issued by the MTLOA said it had to resort to the strike because it was impossible for the tank lorry operators to ply their vehicles at the present permissible weights. The agitation is being supported by the MTLOA8217;s parent body, All India Motor Transport Congress, Containers Association and other associations of transporters using docks, a release added. Since January 15, nearly one lakh tankers were checked throughout the state by the inspectors of the Transport Commissionerate and the RTOs, resulting in recovery of Rs 86.50 lakh from overloaded trucks and tankers.

Ahimsa concert

Pansworld Television India Pvt Ltd is organising a musical evening replete with Gandhian spirit, as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, his 50th death anniversary. Director Joe Pan said since music attracts people, they have used it as a medium to spread Gandhi8217;s message. Father of the nation8217; by Udit Narayan would be part of the concert.