Lorry owners oppose govt's order on speed-governors

Bangalore, May 5 (UNI) The lorry owners today demanded the state government to withdraw its order making it compulsory to fix speed-governors in trucks as it would hinder the movement of goods.

Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners Association President B Channa Reddy, addressing a press conference here, alleged that the government had issued order succumbing to the lobby of the makers of the device.

He said the vehicle manufacturers had not approved the fixing of speed-regulators saying that the performance of engines would come down. "At present majority of the commercial vehicles ply on National permit covering four to five states at a time and implementing this order in one state will not serve any purpose," he said.

Mr Reddy said the managing committee meeting of the federation would be convened on May seven to discuss various issues including the order relating to speed-regulators.

The federation also demanded reduction of taxes levied on diesel in Karnataka which was highest in the country. It also opposed the inclusion of provision in the MV Act to levy tax on overloading along with levy of fines for the violation. Terming it as illegal, he demanded the withdrawal of the new provision.

He said that the federation would serve a ultimatum to the state government to reconsider its earlier orders and threatened to suspend the movement of vehicles in the state if their demands were not met.

UNI