Karnataka   

Ore-laden lorries find alternative ways to evade toll

BELLARY: Shortage of staff has come in the way of proper implementation of the recent order of the government of collecting toll of Rs. 500 per lorry transporting iron ore in Bellary district.

The Public Works Department, which has been entrusted with the task of collecting the newly imposed fee, has opened only five counters — two near Bannihatti and one each in Hospet, Bellary and Kudligi. As such, on an average, it has been able to collect the toll fee only from about 1,000 lorries daily, mostly in Sandur. But there are three times more lorries that have been transporting iron ore from Sandur and Hospet taluks on different routes without paying the fee.

Enquiries revealed that there are several other routes which the lorries have been moving regularly where there are no counters to collect the fees. Only the lorries passing through the check-posts, where the counters have been opened, have been paying the toll. In addition there were several interior routes through which the movement of iron ore is possible without payment of the fee.

“Due to shortage of staff, we have been able to open five counters. This is a stop-gap arrangement until a regular agency is fixed for the purpose. The tender process is under way to entrust the work to an outside agency and will be completed very soon”, a senior official said.

The limited counters have led to frequent traffic jams in Sandur and a long queue in front of the counter there. Additional police have been deployed to regulate the traffic.

When the attention of G. Janardhan Reddy, Minister for Tourism, was drawn to the problem, he said that he would enquire with the officials concerned and take steps to ensure that the government order was followed.

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