Rickshaw unions seek CM8217;s help

SURAT, June 7: With more than 800 autorickshaws being impounded by the police, after a fortnight-long drive against fuel adulteration, ri...

SURAT, June 7: With more than 800 autorickshaws being impounded by the police, after a fortnight-long drive against fuel adulteration, rickshaw unions here have now sought the intervention of chief minister and transport minister in getting the vehicles released.

After filing complaints in the district and sessions court and the High Court last week, contending that 8220;incorrect8221; procedures were followed while impounding rickshaws 8212; presently lying in the traffic branch yards in the city 8212; union leaders are reported to have sought the help of Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel and Transport Minister Bimal Shah in Gandhinagar.

Union leaders told Express Newsline that the ministers have already phoned city traffic branch officials, asking them to release the impounded vehicles.

Citing reasons for the plea, union leaders alleged that spare parts and accessories 8212; like wheels, fuel, auto spares and other parts 8212; of the impounded vehicles in the yards were being stolen. Even policemen were involved in stealing and selling of spare parts, the leaders alleged.

8220;Thus in no time, only the chasis of the vehicles will remain and even that would get worn out in the monsoons,8221; Mahesh Master, president of Surat Auto Rickshaw Mandal complained.

One reason why rickshaw drivers have not been able to reclaim their vehicles is because most of them do not have updated tax papers and registration papers, while some drivers do not have any vehicle papers at all. Such vehicles attract heavy fines which run upto Rs 1000 or more, and remain unclaimed and rotting in the police yard.

Another equally important factor, acknowledged by the unions themselves, is that fuel adulteration is very high in rickshaws. Drivers, when asked, contended that they had no other alternative but to add kerosene with petrol as the shuttle system was proving unaffordable for them. 8220;It is simply impossible to run the rickshaws purely on petrol. It will mean losing Rs 100 daily, forget any gain,8221; claimed one.

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The leaders contended that although they were not opposed to the drive against fuel adulteration, the method being used was wrong, as vehicles were impounded on prima facie8217; evidence that fuel was adulterated. Said Jayanti Prajapati, president of Varachha Autorickshaw Sangh, 8220;Let them conduct proper tests, establish kerosene presence and then impound them. But presently no panchnaama is being done.8221;

The drive, conducted by the traffic branch, the Forensic Science Laboratory responsible for carrying out laboratory tests of fuel samples, the Regional Transport Office and the supplies department controlling kerosene supply, which ended last week, saw an exodus of autorickshaws, with most of the drivers shifting their routes to the outskirts, where checking was not so strict.