The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Old MCH vehicles yet to face axe

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 16, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Old MCH vehicles yet to face axe

Staff Reporter

Proposes to buy 76 new ones

HYDERABAD: Unmindful of Government notification imposing ban on plying of school, tourist and factory buses that are 15 years old, many vehicles including those of the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH), private school buses and sand lorries are still commuting at will on the city roads belching fume and smoke and jeopardising lives.

The Government on Wednesday issued the notification to control vehicular pollution following High Court orders.

There are about 1,000 buses including school and tourist ones plying in the twin cities with a running span crossing 15 years.

These are already under special scrutiny with notices being served to the owners to withdraw them.

These vehicles will not be considered for issuance of any permit or fitness certificates, said Joint Transport Commissioner B.Venkateswarlu.

According to MCH additional Commissioner (health and sanitation) R.Rammohan Rao there are as many as 117 vehicles in the corporation that are over 15 years old.

Of these, 35 are water tankers; trolleys, tippers, fogging vans while the rest are cars and jeeps used by officials.

Conversion to LPG

It is also learnt that letters had been issued to all Governments departments last year, asking them to convert the 15 year-old vehicles into LPG kit-operated ones.

Most of the vehicles are either cars or jeeps.

However, the MCH is now planning to phase out 15-year-old vehicles and has proposals to purchase 76 new vehicles with an estimated cost of Rs.4 crores.

A resolution to this effect was passed in the recent general body meeting.

Over the fate of 117 vehicles, Mr. Rao said either they have to be scrapped or sent to other municipalities in the districts.

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