Tea garden tractors plying without permit since 1955

A tea garden tractor with registration number ASD 3114 , (which got its registration in the District Transport Office at Tezpur in Sonitpur district 54 years back in the year 1955). But will you believe that this tractor has been plying on commercial purposes since these long years without permit, fitness certificate, pollution control certificates thereby showing not only a thumb to the Motor Vehicle Act of the country but also incurring a loss of revenue amounting to a total amount of Rs. 40,500 This is not the only tractor plying without the permit, fitness certificate and pollution control certificate. A total number of 24 tractors have been plying without any valid documents since last several decades causing a loss of revenue amounting to an unbelievable total of Rs. 5,60,950

Now our esteemed readers may ask for the identity of the owner of these un authorized tractors. The owner is none but the Nonoipara Tea Garden of the Goodriche Company a giant multi national tea company. Though the allegations of encroachment of government land, illegal felling of valuable trees etc frequently claims the headlines but the gross violation to the law of the land at the behest of certain tea companies has recently come to the light following a sudden checking programme initiated by Udalguri District Transport Officer Bhaben Deuri. Accompanied by in charge Additional Deputy Commissioner of Bhergaon Sub Division Debajyoti Dutta, a police team of Paneri police station led by the Officer in Charge, Motor Vehicle Inspector Jayanta Deuri and other staff, District transport Officer Bhaben Deuri conducted the search operation Nonoipara Tea Garden along the Indo Bhutan border on October 8 and detected these gross violations of the p[rovisions of Central Motor Vehicle Act 1988.

District Transport Officer of Udalguri, Bhaben Deuri said that earlier he had requested the management of the Tea Garden to get all the tractors regularized by paying the prescribed fees. But as the management did not respond to his request, then as per the instruction of the district administration of Udalguri he carried out the search operation. However the tea garden management has been paying the necessary taxes but did not apply for permit, fitness and pollution control certificate added Deuri. On that day the district transport authority has seized all the documents of these defaulting vehicles and even seized two tractors, which were later handed over to the custody of Dimakuchi Police out post. Meanwhile he informed the matter to the Commissioner of Transport vide a letter on October 12 seeking instructions for carrying out further action.